Johnwouldhavepreferredhisownfiresideifithadnotbeensolonely，butasitwashegratefullytookthenextbestthingandenjoyedhisneighbor’ssociety。
Megratherapprovedofthenewarrangementatfirst，andfounditarelieftoknowthatJohnwashavingagoodtimeinsteadofdozingintheparlor，ortrampingaboutthehouseandwakingthechildren。Butby-and-by，whentheteethingworrywasoverandtheidolswenttosleepatproperhours，leavingMammatimetorest，shebegantomissJohn，andfindherworkbasketdullcompany，whenhewasnotsittingoppositeinhisolddressinggown，comfortablyscorchinghisslippersonthefender。Shewouldnotaskhimtostayathome，butfeltinjuredbecausehedidnotknowthatshewantedhimwithoutbeingtold，entirelyforgettingthemanyeveningshehadwaitedforherinvain。Shewasnervousandwornoutwithwatchingandworry，andinthatunreasonableframeofmindwhichthebestofmothersoccasionallyexperiencewhendomesticcaresoppressthem。Wantofexerciserobsthemofcheerfulness，andtoomuchdevotiontothatidolofAmericanwomen，theteapot，makesthemfeelasiftheywereallnerveandnomuscle。
“Yes，“shewouldsay，lookingintheglass，“I’mgettingoldandugly。Johndoesn’tfindmeinterestinganylonger，soheleaveshisfadedwifeandgoestoseehisprettyneighbor，whohasnoincumbrances。Well，thebabiesloveme，theydon’tcareifIamthinandpaleandhaven’ttimetocrimpmyhair，theyaremycomfort，andsomedayJohnwillseewhatI’vegladlysacrificedforthem，won’the，myprecious？“
Towhichpatheticappealdaisywouldanswerwithacoo，orDemiwithacrow，andMegwouldputbyherlamentationsforamaternalrevel，whichsoothedhersolitudeforthetimebeing。
ButthepainincreasedaspoliticsabsorbedJohn，whowasalwaysrunningovertodiscussinterestingpointswithScott，quiteunconsciousthatMegmissedhim。Notaworddidshesay，however，tillhermotherfoundherintearsoneday，andinsistedonknowingwhatthematterwas，forMeg’sdroopingspiritshadnotescapedherobservation。