The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 104: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. 95 racter ; and this reserve, although it had not weakened her attachment to him, had considerably wounded her pride and self-respect. With the jealous instinct of a mother’s heart, she saw that her children were being taught to look up more to their father than to herself, and she felt both mortified and humbled. The weaver neither wanted for common sense nor a natural feeling of justice. The reproach of his wife, that he had never trusted her, as well as the recollection of the cruel temptation to which she had been exposed, mollified his anger; and after a short struggle between his pride, temper, and the weakness, as he called it, of yielding, he threw down his hat, and reseated himself on the chair he had so hastily quitted. *“ And so, Meg,” he said, ‘‘ I never trusted you ?”’ “* Never.” “And what greater trust can a man bestow upon a woman than the credit of his name—the care of his children ? Come,” he added, “ I was hard—very hard put to it; for I had given Gridley my word—and you know I never broke it yet. Say no more about it. Kiss, and be friends.” | “And do you really forgive me?” exclaimed Meg, throwing her arm over his shoulder, and offering her cheek to his salute. ‘“‘ Freely.” “‘ And without second thoughts ?” The weaver smiled. ‘€ Then, Iam a happy woman this day!” exclaimed his wife. ‘ Look here, Tim,” she added, showing him COniiclooecl SS (SO