“No, mamma, it wasn’t that; he had come in to hear me recite, and I was so interested in my fancy work that I’d forgotten to watch the time and hadn’t looked at the lessons.  So I told him, and said I was sorry I wasn’t ready for him, and he didn’t answer a word, but just looked at me as grave as a judge, and turned round and walked out of the room.”

“Surely, my dear Zoe, Edward does not insist upon his little wife learning lessons whether she is willing or not?” Elsie said inquiringly, and with a gentle caress.

“Oh, no, no, mamma! it has been my own choice, and I’ve no wish to give it up; but somehow there is always something interfering with my studying.  Somebody calls, or I’m inclined for a ride, a drive or a walk, or I get engaged in sewing or fancy work, or my music, or a story-book that’s too interesting to lay down till I reach the end.  Mamma, I often wonder how it is that you find time for all these things and many others beside.”

“Shall I tell you the secret of managing it, dear?” Elsie asked, with an affectionate look and smile into the tear-stained face now uplifted to hers.

Zoe gave an eager assent, and Elsie went on: 

“It lies in doing things systematically, always putting duties first, giving to each its set time, and letting the pleasures come in afterward.  If I were you, my dear, I should have a regular study hour, putting it early in the day, before callers begin to come, and I should not allow it to be lightly interfered with; no stitch should be taken in fancy work, no novel opened, no story paper glanced at, until each lesson for the day was fully prepared.”

Zoe’s face had brightened very much as she listened.

“O mamma, I see that that is just the way to do it!” she cried, clapping her hands with glee, “and I’ll begin at once.  I’ll think over all the daily duties and make out a regular programme, and——­”

“Strive earnestly to carry it out, you would say, yet not in your own strength alone,” Elsie added, as Zoe paused, leaving her sentence unfinished.

“Yes, mamma,” she responded in a more serious tone.  “And now, I’ll run back to my room and try to be ready for Edward when he comes in again.”

She set herself to her tasks with unwonted determination to give her whole mind to them.  Edward came in at length, and was greeted with a bright look and the announcement in a tone of great satisfaction, “I’m quite ready for you now.”

“I’ve been thinking we might perhaps as well give it up, Zoe,” he answered gravely, “at least for the present, until you are done working upon those very fascinating Christmas things.”

“Oh no, don’t!” she said, flushing and looking ready to cry, “try me a little longer, Ned; I’ve been talking with mamma, and I’m really going to turn over a new leaf and do just as she advises.”

“Ah, if you have taken mamma into your counsels there is some hope,” he said in a tone of hearty approval.  “But we will have to put off the recitations until after tea.  I must drive over to the Oaks to see Uncle Horace about a business matter, and I just came up to ask you to go along.”