Sink or Swim? , Volume II by Matilda Charlotte Houstoun

If anything, John and his wife were -- as the pleasant spring-time came on / apace -- happier in their _ménage_ than had been the case some months / before. It was not in Honor's nature to dwell long either upon real or / imaginary grievances, and moreover John had been so wonderfully, so more / than ever, kind and good. He had seemed -- quite silently, and with more / tact than could have been expected of him -- both to understand, and to / set himself to remedy, the causes for Honor's silly discontent. To Mrs. / Beacham's vexation -- for she could bear less than ever that Honor should / be spoilt -- new books found their way, for its young mistress's / delectation, to the farm; the last and prettiest opera-music was sure to / make its appearance there almost before Honor could have read of its / reception by the critics, and -- still stronger proof of John's unwearied / affection -- he had taken by almost imperceptible degrees to amending his / _dress_, and to an extreme watchfulness lest he should offend her with / his tongue.

At that period of their joint matrimonial lives, there seemed to be a / renewed prospect of happiness for one of the best and truest-hearted of / men with the sweet young wife on whose love he had set his heart. There / was no idle and _désœuvré_ young gentleman now at hand to whisper / compliments in the prettiest of ears; no handsome, high-bred _roué_ to / place himself in juxtaposition with a husband's more homely features and / less finished manners. But _proh dolor_! The thorn in the side was ever / there; grievously and daily pinched the household shoe; for Mrs. / Beacham's temper, her love of power, and her jealousy of John, rather / increased than diminished, thus almost neutralising the good effects of / time, and of the real and inborn excellence of the two hearts which she / seemed fated to torment.