I had begged the place for her myself of Mistress Ursula.) Though only a few rooms were furnished, and that very simply, almost poorly, all was done with taste and care; the colours well mingled, the wood-work graceful and good.
They were out gardening, John Halifax and his wife.
Ay, his wife; he was a husband now.

They looked so young, both of them, he kneeling, planting box-edging, she standing by him with her hand on his shoulder--the hand with the ring on it.

He was laughing at something she had said, thy very laugh of old, David! Neither heard me come till I stood close by.
"Phineas, welcome, welcome!" He wrung my hand fervently, many times; so did Ursula, blushing rosy red.

They both called me "brother," and both were as fond and warm as any brother and sister could be.
A few minutes after, Ursula--"Mrs.Halifax," as I said I ought to call her now--slipped away into the house, and John and I were left together.

He glanced after his wife till she was out of sight, played with the spade, threw it down, placed his two hands on my shoulders, and looked hard in my face.