Then Mrs. Baumhagen put down her dainty coffee cup and leaned back in her garden chair. The child was not in her right mind! that was too much. But Arthur Fredericks applauded loudly.
"Gertrude," he called out across the table, "talk to this--" he seized the hand of his wife who angrily tried to draw it away. "What does Katherine say as an amiable wife to her sister? Words that sound as sweet to us as a message from a better world."
"To be sure!" laughed Gertrude, not in the least offended by the ironical tone.
"Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper, Thy head, thy sovereign; one that cares for thee And for thy maintenance; commits his body To painful labor, both by sea and land; To watch the night in storms, the day in cold While thou liest warm at home secure and safe; And craves no other tribute at thy hands But love, fair looks and true obedience,-- Too little payment for so great a debt."
"You see, Arthur, I have my Shakespeare at my tongue's end."
Mrs. Baumhagen suddenly broke up the coffee party. She seemed heated, for she was fanning herself with her handkerchief.
"Gertrude, you must show us the house," she exclaimed. "Come, Jenny, we will leave the gentlemen to their cigars."
"Gladly, mamma," said the young girl, easily.
She led her mother and sister through the kitchen and cellar, through the chambers, and through the whole house. In the dining-room a pretty young woman in a spotless white apron was engaged in clearing off the table. Gertrude gave her some orders in a low tone as she passed.
"That is Johanna, whose husband was killed," said Jenny.
"Yes," replied her sister, "I have engaged her as housekeeper. She is very capable, and I like to have a familiar face about me."
"With the child?" asked the mother, scornfully.
"Of course," replied the young wife. "She lives in the other wing. It is a pleasure to see how the little fellow improves in the country air."
"Who lives in this wing?" inquired Jenny.
"Good gracious! A sort of mother-in-law?" cried her sister in consternation.
Gertrude shook her head. "No, she is quite inoffensive, she belongs to the inventory--so to speak. But I would like Frank to have his mother here, the old lady is so alone and she is not very well."