Elkanah says to his wife, "Am not I better unto thee than ten sons?" As
though he favoured her more for that which she thought herself despised.
So a good husband will not love his wife less, but comfort her more for
her infirmities, as this man did, that she may bear with his infirmities
too. And if she be jealous--ay, they will be jealous--'
He spoke in a reverie, with a sad fond look, not a smile, but something
like a smile, and a little pensive shake of the head; he was thinking,
perhaps, of very old times. And 'my lord' glanced with a sly smile at
Gertrude, who was looking on the carpet with, I think, a blush, and I'm
sure saw my lord's glance seeking hers, but made as though she did not.
'If she be jealous, her jealousy, you know, is still the measure of her
love. Bless God that he hath made thee to her so dear a treasure that
she cannot hide her fears and trouble lest she should lose even a
portion of thy love; and let thy heart thank _her_ too.
'And if the husband would reprove her, it must be in such a mood as if
he did chide with himself, and his words like Jonathan's arrows, which
were not shot to hurt but to give warning.
Pages:
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973