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Mrs Arnot endeavored to conform to his peculiarities in this respect, and kept open the dorooves in which it was necessary to his peace that he should ularly and methodically He had his meals at the hour he chose, to the moment, and when he retired to his library--or, rather, the business office at his house--not the throne-roo Ahasuerus was more sacred from intrusion; and seldom to his wife, even, was the sceptre of favor and welco time she had tried to be an affectionate as well as a faithful wife, for she had married this man from love She had mistaken his cool self-poise for the calth; and woth, and so; but so also are the driving-wheels of an engine
There is an undefined, half-recognized force in nature which leadstheir opposites in te of this tendency is, no doubt, beneficent, it not unfrequently brings together those who are so radically different, that they cannot supplement each other, but must ever remain two distinct, unblended lives, that are in duty bound to obey the letter of the law of e, but who cannot fulfil its spirit
For years Mrs Arnot had sought with all a woe, so that the mystical words of God, "And they twain shall be one flesh," should describe their union; but as tirowprinciples of each life were utterly different He was hardening into stone, while the dross anddaily refined away A strong but wholly selfish character cannot blend by giving and taking, and thus beco different and better It can only absorb, and thus drag down to its own condition Before there can be unity the weaker one ive up and yield personal will and independence to such a degree that it is al devoured and assirow too narrow and self-sufficient in his nature for such spiritual cannibalism, even had his wife been a weak, neutral character, with no decided and persistent individuality of her own He was not slow in exacting outward and mechanical service, but he had no tis, and opinions; nor did he think it worth while, to any extent, to lead her to reflect only his feelings and opinions Neither she nor any one else was very essential to him His business was necessary, and he valued it even rew somewhat like his machinery, which needed attention, but which cherished no senti its hours of motion