The Living Age Volume 54 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1857 Excerpt: ...poor thing," said Mrs. Pettifer you know she stands up for every thing her husband says and does. She never will admit to anybody that he's not a good husband." "That is her pride," said Miss Pratt. "She married him in opposition to the advice of her best friends, and now she is not willing to admit that she was wrong. Why, even to my brother--and a medical attendant, you know, can hardly fail to be acquainted with family secrets--sho has always pretended to have the highest respeot for her husband's qualities. Poor Mm. Raynor, however, is well aware that every one knows the real state of things. Latterly, she has not even avoided the subject with me. The very last time I called on her she said, ' Have you been to see my poor daughter? ' and burst into tears." "Pride or no pride," said Mrs. Pettifer, "I shall always stand up for Janet Dempster. She sat up with me night after night when I had that attack of rheumatic fever six years ago. There's great excuses for her. When a woman can't think of her husband coming home without trembling, it's enough to make her drink something to blunt her feelings--and no children either, to keep her from it. You and me might do the same, if we were in her place." "Speak for yourself, Mrs. Pettifer, said Miss Pratt. "Under no circumstances can I imagine myself resorting to a practice so degrading. A woman should find support in her own strength of mind." "I think," said Rebecca, who considered Miss Pratt etill very blind in spiritual things, notwithstanding her assumption of enlightenment, "she will find poor support if she trusts only to her own strength. She must seek aid elsewhere than in herself." Happily the removal of the tea-things j...