An hour spent in company with Mrs. Anthony always left Mrs. Dexter in a state of disquietude, and suffering from a sense of restriction and wrong.  A feeling of alienation from her husband ever accompanied this state, and her spirit beat itself about, striking against the bars of conventional usage, until the bruised wings quivered with pain.  But an hour spent with Mrs. De Lisle left her in a very different state.  True thoughts were stirred, and the soul lifted upwards into regions of light and beauty.  There was no grovelling about the earth, no fanning of selfish fires into smoky flames, no probing of half-closed wounds until the soul writhed in a new-born anguish—­but instead, hopeful words, lessons of duty, and the introduction of an ennobling spiritual philosophy, that gave strength and tranquillity for the present, and promised the soul’s highest fruition in the surely coming future.

Both Mrs. De Lisle and Mrs. Anthony were at Saratoga.  The announcement of Mrs. Dexter that she was going to leave for Newport so suddenly surprised them both, as it had been understood that she was to remain for some time longer.

“My husband wishes to visit Newport now,” was the answer of Mrs. Dexter to the surprised exclamation of Mrs. Anthony.

“Tell him that you wish to remain here,” replied Mrs. Anthony.

“He is not well, and thinks the sea air will do him good.”

“Not well!  I met him an hour ago, and never saw him looking better in my life.  Do you believe him?”

“Why not?” asked Mrs. Dexter.

Her friend laughed lightly, and then murmured—­

“Simpleton!  He’s only jealous, and wants to get you away from your admirers.  Don’t go.”

Mrs. Dexter laughed with affected indifference, but her color rose.

“You wrong him,” she said.

“Not I,” was answered.  “The signs are too apparent.  I am a close observer, my dear Mrs. Dexter, and know the meaning of most things that happen to fall within the range of my observation.  Your husband is jealous.  The next move will be to shut you up in your chamber, and set a guard before the house.  Now if you will take my advice, you’ll say to this unreasonable lord and master of yours, ’Please to wait, sir, until I am ready to leave Saratoga.  It doesn’t suit me to do so just now.  If you need the sea, run away to Newport and get a dash of old ocean.  I require Congress water a little longer.’  That’s the way to talk, my little lady.  But don’t for Heaven’s sake begin to humor his capricious fancies.  If you do, it’s all over.”

Mrs. De Lisle was present, but made no remark.  Mrs. Dexter parried her friend’s admonition with playful words.

“Will you come to my room when disengaged?” said the former, as she rose to leave the parlor where they had been sitting.

“I will.”

Mrs. De Lisle withdrew.

“You’ll get a sermon on obedience to husbands,” said Mrs. Anthony, tossing her head and smiling a pretty, half sarcastic smile.  “I’ve one great objection to our friend.”