Emphasized in the third place—­reproducing ordinarily a sketch and cut of her drawing-room—­her great social gifts and graces, which had made her a leader of society in the best sense of the word both in Benham and in New York.  A few of the articles stated in judicious terms that she had been twice a widow.  Only one of them set this forth in conspicuous and opprobrious terms:  “Her Third Husband!  Our Chief Magistrate’s Wife’s Many Marriages!” Such was the unsympathetic, alliterative heading of the malicious statement which appeared in an opposition organ.  It did no more than recall the fact that she had obtained a divorce from her first husband, who had in his despair taken to drink, and intimate that her second husband had not been altogether happy.  Selma wept when she read the article.  She felt that it was cruel and uncalled for; that it told only half the truth and traduced her before the American people.  She chose to conceive that it had been inspired by Pauline and Mrs. Hallett Taylor, neither of whom had sent her a word of congratulation on her promotion to be the Governor’s wife.  Who but Pauline knew that her marriage with Littleton had not been completely harmonious?  Who but Mrs. Taylor or one of her set would have the malice to insinuate that she had been merciless to Babcock?  This was one libel in a long series of complimentary productions.  The representation of the family group was made complete by occasional references to the Governor elect’s mother—­“Mother Lyons, the venerable parent of our chief magistrate.”  Altogether Selma felt that the picture presented to the public was a truthful and inspiring record of pious and enterprising American life, which showed to the community that its choice of a Governor had been wise and was merited.

Close upon the election and these eulogistic biographies came the inauguration, with Lyons’s eloquent address.  Selma, of course, had special privileges—­a reserved gallery in the State House, to which she issued cards of admission to friends of her own selection.  Occupying in festal attire the centre of this conspicuous group, she felt that she was the cynosure of every eye.  She perceived that she was constantly pointed out as the second personage of the occasion.  To the few legislators on the floor whom she already knew she took pains to bow from her seat with gracious cordiality, intending from the outset to aid her husband by captivating his friends and conciliating the leaders of the opposition party.  On her way to and from the gallery she was joined by several members, to each of whom she tried to convey subtly the impression that she purposed to take an earnest interest in legislative affairs, and that her husband would be apt to consult her in regard to close questions.  On the morning after the inauguration she had the satisfaction of seeing her own portrait side by side with that of her husband on the front page of two newspapers, a flattering indication, as she believed, that the press already