Chapter I

EVERYBODY thought Joe Brennan was in luck on the bright summer morning, when Kitty Anderton and he became husband and wife, for Kitty was quite the prettiest girl for miles round, and had the prospect of having "a nice penny" of her own some day. Some day meant whenever her mother died; but Mrs. Anderton was a hale woman of forty-five, and Kitty might be an elderly one before she inherited her little fortune.

It was not the prospect of money in the future that made Joe Brennan seek Kitty for a wife. He cared for her, and for her only, and if other people thought him a lucky man on his wedding day, Joe, looking into the fair face of his bride, was equally sure that he was quite the luckiest man that the summer sun shone upon.

Like all true-hearted fellows, Joe was humble in his great happiness. He wondered how such a dainty creature could care for a clumsy fellow like him. His heart swelled within him as he thanked God for the gift of Kitty, and he vowed to love, cherish, and guard her to the very utmost of his power.

So far as outsides went, there was no doubt that Joe had won a prize. But he knew little about his wife's fitness for making home happy, turning his wages to the best account, or managing the small household so as to unite comfort and economy.

In Mrs. Anderton's home, everything was always in apple-pie order. Kitty had been used to the most beautiful cleanliness all her life. She was neat in her person, and her lovely hair was the admiration of everybody. As to her hands! Joe had often laid one of them in his brown palm, and laughed at the difference in size and colour. He wondered how any person who took a share in housework could have hands so smooth and white as Kitty's.

Joe was afraid Kitty would think his income small, but when he told her all about it, and said how much he wanted to spend, and of his wish to save a little, she declared it "was oceans," and would do everything, and to spare—Joe needn't be uneasy about her managing all right. Beside, if she did want teaching, wasn't there her mother? She could tell her what to do under all circumstances.

Joe was only too glad to be convinced, and as he went off for a fortnight's holiday before settling down in his new home, he could think of nothing but his amazing luck in having won Kitty. A capable young sister of his was to be in the house during their absence, and to have all ready for them on their return.

The days went all too quickly. At the fortnight's end, the pair came home with sun-burned faces, and, Kitty especially, full of delight at the thought of beginning house-keeping on their own account.

Grace Brennan was proud to show her new sister-in-law how nicely everything was ordered for her comfort, and Kitty kissed and thanked her in the prettiest way possible. She looked almost like a child put in possession of a doll's house, as she examined one thing after another, and peeped into every nook, corner, drawer, and cupboard, scarcely having patience to sit still through the meal that was ready when they arrived.

"You have been good, Gracie," said Kitty. "The house is beautiful, and you shall see how nice I will keep it now it is in my hands to look after."

Grace was pleased at having given pleasure, and being a good-natured girl, she was willing to do still more. "If you like, I will stay a night or two longer, and help you until you get used to things," she said.

But Kitty would not hear of this. She was anxious to try her 'prentice hand as mistress of a house, and felt far too full of importance to own that she could want help.

"I mustn't keep you longer now, Gracie. It is very good of you, but I'll not be selfish. Better for me to begin as I shall have to go on; and you know I've had a good fortnight's holiday with Joe. You would spoil me with kindness. I can see that plainly enough."

There was a determined ring in Kitty's voice that told Grace she was in earnest. So after saying that she would always be willing to help, and they must send for her at any time, she left the young couple to themselves.

"Now, Joe, we are housekeepers in earnest," said Kitty. "Grace is as good as gold, but still I did not want anybody here but our two selves. I've heard mother say it was best for young beginners to have their homes to themselves, and specially not to begin with relations under the roof. I'm very fond of mother, but I wouldn't ask her to come, and she knows it. More than that, she wouldn't wish to meddle."

Joe was abundantly content. He saw how useful Grace's help and presence had been whilst they were away; but of course he would rather have only Kitty, and he was delighted that she wanted no one else. He had been a little afraid that she might shrink from undertaking the household work all at once, and it was a pleasant surprise to find how willing she was to do it.

Mrs. Anderton was not near to offer a welcome to Joe and Kitty. She had taken her daughter's marriage very much to heart, though, knowing Joe's character, she had given her consent to it. Still, for a widowed mother to be deprived of the presence of her only daughter was no light trial. And Kitty's was such a bright presence. She looked such a pretty picture as she went in and out, singing in the glad way that a bird sings as it hops from bough to bough. It seemed as if sunshine came and went with Kitty, and Mrs. Anderton was terribly lonely after the wedding was over.

As Grace Brennan was preparing the house for the young couple, there was no work for her there. So when a letter came from an old friend who was going for a month to the seaside, and who wanted a companion, Mrs. Anderton arranged to go with her, and was absent when Kitty returned from her wedding trip.

That first evening did not pass without some forebodings on Joe's part. He had taken his bride's housewifely capacity for granted, and her confident words and manner had led him to think that, as he put it, she "knew all about things." But he quickly found out the secret of Kitty's white hands.

Mrs. Anderton was herself a first-rate house-wife and manager. Strong and capable, it was easier for her to do than to train her daughter in similar accomplishments. What the mother did not choose to do herself, such as the washing and less cleanly housework, she was able to pay for, and a stout charwoman did it under her superintendence, and had to do it well.

Mrs. Anderton was proud of Kitty's beauty, and, having a sufficient income to cover all their modest expenses, she would neither allow the girl to learn any business nor to take any part in housework that would spoil either her clothes or the whiteness of her hands. "She has been used to see me do things, and she's sharp enough. When the time comes, she'll turn to work right enough," said Mrs. Anderton, without any anxieties as to Kitty's fitness for the duties of a wife.

She too thought it was well for young married folk to feel their feet, and was resolved that Joe Brennan should not have cause to complain that his mother-in-law's foot was never off his doorstep.

Kitty was in good hands, for Joe almost worshipped the ground she trod on. And her mother, judging that two such true lovers would find each other's society enough during the early days of married life, left them to themselves with a clear conscience.

If anybody could have read Mrs. Anderton's thoughts, a little under-current of feeling would have been found there—one which she would have hesitated to put into words. It was somewhat of this kind—

"Kitty has been so taken up with Joe since I agreed to the marriage, that I am nobody. It's natural he should be first, but she might think of all I've done for her, and how she has been indulged. She will want my advice and help before long, though she gives herself a few airs now, and is very independent. I'll keep out of reach for a bit, and she'll learn the value of having her mother to run to. She has plenty to learn beside that, and so she'll find."

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