Gathered In by Catherine Helen Spence — Read

Edith Gray had thought it strange that her brother Charlie did not show any wish to go with the family to Castlehurst to attend the trial which to herself was so deeply interesting, while her brother on the other hand was surprised that she should care to go to Castlehurst at all on that day. If Helen had expressed a wish to go, of course her young husband would have gone with her and heard Edward Talbot plead, but it was very far from her ideas, and she enjoyed the freedom of Wilta after the constraint and publicity of having spent the first week of her married life on board a passenger steamer. Although Charlie thought Edith herself might have stayed at home with them on the first day after their arrival, still Mrs. Ellerton might need Edith's support and countenance, and he therefore excused her. The young pair had a very happy day together, strolling the garden, seeing the animals, going through their house. Everything in and about the old beloved home was dear to Charlie, and through him dear to his bride.

Charles Gray had once paid his sister the highest compliment she considered she had ever received; that his only regret in having her for a sister was that it would be impossible for him to make her his wife. She had thought that in choosing a partner he would look out both for personal and mental resemblance to herself; but although both young girls were dark, there the resemblance ended. Helen was both short and exceedingly slight in figure, her face pleasing and gentle, her manner extremely quiet, and altogether eminently a restful little woman. Charlie said she was the most receptive and reasonable woman in the world, and she had the most worshipful appreciation of her husband's intellectual and universal superiority to all men in the world.