A Reconstructed Marriage
Contents:
Nothing had been forgotten, even the most trivial toilet articles were present in their most beautiful form. Isabel lifted some of these, and asked: Theodora may not like the perfumes; indeed, I do not think she uses perfume of any kind, but they can be sent back, or changed. Campbell, when all apartments had been examined, "these rooms are fit for a queen, and many a poor queen never had anything half so splendid and comfortable.
Theodora will be confounded by their richness and beauty. I should say she never saw anything like them. I met her first at John Priestley's, Member of Parliament for Sheffield, where she was the guest of his daughter, and in their mansion the rooms are much handsomer than anything we have here. Theodora has been a guest in some of the finest manor houses in England. These rooms are quite modest compared with some she has occupied. But Robert, I can not, and I will not, change my ways at my time of life.
I may be plain and common—perhaps—I may be vulgar in Theodora's eyes, but——". You represent the finest ladies of your generation.
Theodora is the fruit and flower of a later one, different, but no better than your own. You are everything I want. I would not have you changed in any respect. Such appreciative words as these were most unusual, and Mrs. Campbell felt them thrill her heart with pleasure. She even half-resolved to try to like Robert's wife, and spoke enthusiastically about the taste her son had displayed. In the morning she was still more delighted, for then she discovered that her own drawing-room had been redecorated, a new light carpet laid, and many beautiful pieces of furniture added to brighten its usual gloom.
Nor had Isabel's and Christina's rooms been forgotten; in many ways they had been beautified, and only the family dining-room had been left in the gloom of its dark, though handsome furniture. But Robert hoped by the following summer his mother would be willing to have it totally changed, for he remembered hearing Theodora say that the room in which people eat ought to be, above all other rooms in the house, bright, and light, and cheerful. Indeed, she thought it a matter of well-being to eat under the happiest circumstances possible.
A Reconstructed Marriage by Amelia E. Barr - Free Ebook
In the height of the women's delight and gratitude, Robert set off on his wedding journey. His joy infected the whole house. Even the cross McNab and the mournful Jepson were heard laughing, and Christina spoke of this as among the wonderfuls of her existence. Perhaps the one most pleased was Mrs. She had been surrounded by the same depressing furniture and upholstery for thirty-seven years, and she had almost a childish pleasure in the new white lace curtains which had been hung in her rooms.
They gave her a sense of youth, of something unusually happy and hopeful. Many times in a day, she went, unknown to any one, into the drawing-room and took the fine lace drapery in her fingers, to examine and admire its beauty. The girls also were more cheerful. Indeed, the tone of the house had been uplifted and changed, and all through the influence of more light, some graceful modern furniture, and a little—alas, that it was so little!
Claire called one evening upon his family. You were none of you there. Robert has found a jewel. White satin and lace, of course, but what I liked was the simplicity of the gown. I heard some one call it a Princess shape. It fit her beautiful form without a crease, and fell in long soft folds to her white shoes. She looked like an angel. She wore no jewels, and she carried instead of flowers a small Bible bound in purple velvet and gold. The Blue Coat Boys—a large old school in Kendal—scattered flowers before her as she walked from the church gates to the altar; and the old rector who had married her father and mother was quite affected by the ceremony.
He kissed and blessed her at the altar-rail, after it was over. It was a solemn and affecting sight. And the sweet old bells chimed so joyously, I can never forget them. I have brought you some bride cake," and he took from a box in his hand three smaller white boxes, tied with white ribbon, and presented them. Campbell laid hers unopened on the table without a word of thanks or courtesy, and Isabel and Christina followed her example.
Claire, "and the Blue Coat Boys met the bride singing a wedding-hymn. Robert gave them a noble check for their school. They had intended going through the Fife towns, and by old St. Andrews to Wick, and so to the Orkneys and Shetlands. But it was late in the season for this trip, so they went to Paris and the Mediterranean. I think they were right. A honeymoon is a sort of transcendental existence, and a man naturally wants to spend it as nearly in Paradise as possible. There's no place like the Mediterranean for sunshine, and it is poetical and picturesque, and just the place for lovers.
Failing, with all his willing good nature, to rouse any apparent interest in a subject he considered highly interesting, he felt a little offended, and rose to depart. But ere he reached the parlor door he turned and said: Newton—by-the-by, wonderfully beautiful spots, nothing like them in Scotland—and one day while waiting in his study, I picked up a book. Imagine my astonishment, when I saw it had been written by the bride. At this information Mrs. Campbell threw up her hands with a laugh that terminated in something like a shriek. Isabel laid her hand on her mother's arm, and asked: I need not have been.
Every girl scribbles a little now. It gave the Latin and Saxon names of our own old cities, and all the historical and biographical incidents connected with them. It treated the names in the Bible and ancient history in the same way. The preacher was very modest about it, but said it was now in all the best schools, and that his daughter had quite a good income from the royalty on its sale. Claire, we can stand no more revelations concerning the bride's perfections!
A reconstructed marriage.
Robert Campbell is only a master of iron workers and coal miners, and I fear he will feel painfully his inferiority to such a marvellously beautiful and intellectual woman. As for myself, and my poor girls, I can only say—grant us patience! Claire bowed, and made a hurried exit. She will have troubles great and small with those women under her roof, and I wonder if Robert will have the gumption to stand by her.
He was always extraordinarily afraid of his mother. I should be afraid of her myself. I am thankful my mother isn't the least like her! My mother is made of love and sweet-temper, and she is more of a lady in her winsey skirt and linen short gown than Mrs. Traquair Campbell is in all her silk and lace and jewelry.
Thank God for His mercies! The Book says a good wife is from the Lord. I know, by personal experience, that a good mother is even more so. I'll just write mother a letter this very night, and tell her all about the wedding. She will enjoy every word of it, and at the end say: With His blessing they'll do weel enough, whatever comes.
Helping men and women rebuild marriages affected by a wife's childhood sexual abuse.
There was no blessing in Mrs. She looked at her girls in silence until she heard the closing of the front door, then she asked: I think little of that grace. Theodora may be a beauty, a school-teacher, and an authoress, but we three women can match her. But she is the man's choice—such as it is.
Doubtless he thinks her without a fault, but, as I told you before, the bit-by-bitness can soon change that opinion—a little mustard seed of suspicion or difference of any kind, can grow to a great tree. Do not forget what I say. I am just distracted as yet with the situation. This world is a hard place.
Childhood Sexual Abuse , Forgiveness , Marriage. Is the content of your message congruent with your intent? So the subject died in bad temper, and Robert felt his proffered kindness to have been very ungraciously received. She found the family deep in the discussion of an immediate removal to the seashore. I never knew a Scotchwoman called Theodora. I am convinced of the possibility that marriages affected by childhood sexual abuse can be reconstructed. Every innuendo is exaggerated and it seems that mountains are made out of molehills.
But this or that, mind you, I have always come out of every tribulation victorious—and there is now three of us—we shall be hard enough to beat. She is a beauty, a genius, an Englishwoman, a Methodist, a teacher of women, a writer of books, and no doubt she will try to set up the golden image of her manifold perfections in Traquair House—but which of us three will bow down before it?
Tell me that, Christina! Chalmer's last sermons, and I'll take a few words from him to settle my mind and put me to sleep; for I am fairly distracted with the prospect of such a monumental woman among us. But I'll say nothing about her, one way or the other, and then I cannot be blamed. I would advise you both to be equally prudent.
But Isabel and Christina were not of their mother's mind. Such a delightful bit of gossip had never before come into their lives, and they went to Isabel's room to talk it all over again, for Isabel being the eldest had the largest and the best furnished room. Isabel made a social event of it, by placing a little table between them, set with the special dainties she kept for her private refreshment.
And they felt it to be a friendly and cheerful thing, to have this special woman to season the rich cates and fruit provided. So it had struck twelve before Christina rose and remarked:. The next one will be the home-coming, and I dare say Robert will descend on us in the most unexpected time and way. I am sure Robert will be telegraphing Jepson from every station on the road. The most trivial things will be directed by him.
Let us go to bed now; I am sleepy. One can never tell what the unknown may turn out to be. Mother is inclined to be suspicious of all strangers," said Isabel. She does not trouble herself about people who leave the Campbells alone. Mother is sure he is dead. I think so myself. He would have written to Robert if he was alive. He was gey fond of Robert. I never heard why he went, for when I came home I was forbidden to name him. Did he do anything wrong? Her father was dead, and she had learned dressmaking to support her mother and herself.
She came to make our winter dresses, and David saw her and loved her. Though she was a minister's daughter, mother had always sent her to the servants' table, and she was nearly mad to think David had married a girl from the servants' table. It was disgraceful—in a way. The servants talked, and so did every one that knew us. But David loved her, and when he went he took both Agnes and her mother with him. He took it angrily. He sold David's share in the works for him, and so let strangers into the company, and he sent him away with his blessing, and plenty of money.
David was crying when he bid father good-bye; and father was never the same after David left.
We always believed that father knew where he went, and that he heard from him, through Mr. But mother could get no words from him about David, except 'The boy did right. God pity the man whose wife is chosen for him! I think so; I was not told it as a fact. Do not breathe a word of what I have told you. It is a dead story. David and father are both gone, and I dare say David's wife is married again. Wow - Thanks again for the blog. Might have to bookmark this one for the times when my emotions just make me want to quit. Going back and forth on this path does get exhausting. It is amazing how God works through all things like He promises.
Though I would not wish this on another soul, I can honestly say I am a better man for the path I am traveling. For me lately the struggle is showing closeness when she doesn't want closeness. It is the line between respect for what my wife is going through and our human need for togetherness. That is why I am looking forward to the next blog. Click here for more endorsements. Home About Why Reconstruction? Welcome to Marriage Reconstruction Ministries Watch an introduction.
Impact on Marriage A segment of a 90 minute video. Marriage affected by childhood sexual abuse can be reconstructed. How are you affected by the effects? Hey Guys, I am a back again to about. Bill's doctoral research focused on the impact of childhood sexual abuse. Helping men and women rebuild marriages affected by a wife's childhood sexual abuse. I invite you to explore, examine, and reconstruct.
I was sexually abused over many years as a child. Every innuendo is exaggerated and it seems that mountains are made out of molehills. The book deals with love, hate, bitterness, manipulation, hope, forgiveness, and determination. If you enjoy novels from this era dealing with family dynamics and British social stratification then you might possibly enjoy this one. Phylicia rated it it was ok Apr 14, Apteryx rated it it was amazing Oct 19, Lynette added it Mar 08, Feimei Zeng marked it as to-read Jan 25, Pinar marked it as to-read Jan 03, Jennifer added it Jul 09, Elizabeth marked it as to-read Mar 20, Sathya Srinivasan added it Aug 27, Susannah marked it as to-read Nov 26, Karla added it Mar 09, Jessica Fleming marked it as to-read Feb 15, Janelle marked it as to-read Apr 02, Karen marked it as to-read Nov 02, Book marked it as to-read Feb 26, Stephen Robertson marked it as to-read Dec 11, Audrey Lee marked it as to-read Apr 15,
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