The keenly sensitive soul instead of becoming hardened to suffering
feels it more and more sharply. The powers of endurance become worn
out, and to the pain is added a sense of injustice. Since it suffered
yesterday the heart claims the right to be happy to-day, and feels
wronged that this is denied it. With all her endurance, and with all
her faith, Edith could scarcely repress the feeling of passionate
protest which rose in her bosom. She said to herself that she had done
all, and been all, that lay in her power; that there was no sacrifice
in life she was not ready to make to preserve her husband's love; and
the most cruel pang of all she felt in thinking of her boy. For
herself, it seemed to her, she could have borne anything; but that the
atmosphere of the home in which her son was reared should fall short in
anything of the utmost ideal possibilities caused her intolerable
anguish. It seemed to her a cruel wrong to Caldwell that the love and
confidence between his parents should not be perfect. It is probable
that more of her personal pain was covered by this pity for her son
than she was aware; but as she looked up at his picture she felt almost
as if he were half-orphaned by this estrangement between herself and
Arthur, which it were vain for her to attempt to ignore.
It was after midnight when she heard the street door open and close;
and a moment later came her husband's tap.
Pages:
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303