Marie Belloc Lowndes

“ Armitage sharply.
"Even so, Alcestis is a name which I hope you will very often hear, mother," observed her son, laying the big dictionary back on to the round table.
In a defiant tone he added, "I have made up my mind to consent to my wife's wish in the matter."
The Duchess caught hold of his hand and gave it a squeeze. "That is kind, nay noble, of you!" she cried.
"It's not kind or noble; it's culpable weakness; and most cruel to his poor innocent little daughter," exclaimed Mrs. Armitage with energy. ”

“ She always wants to have her own way!"
"Don't you think every woman of spirit does that? Surely you don't approve of the doormat type of wife?"
The Duchess was beginning to feel as if her patience was ebbing out.
"I don't approve of the doormat type of husband," answered Mrs. Armitage quickly. And the other felt that Gerald's mother had scored.
She put her soft hand on Mrs. Armitage's hard, stringy wrist.
"Do let us go and see Baby," she suggested. Generously she added, "I'm glad the dear little thing won't have to live up to such a name as Alcestis!" ”

“ The young man cleared his throat, and read out, in a solemn voice:
"Alcestis was the daughter of Pelias, son of Poseidon, Admetus, King of Pheræ, sought her in marriage. Pelias consented, provided Admetus fetched her in a chariot drawn by lions and boars——" He paused, and his mother exclaimed, "Did you ever hear of anything more ridiculous!"
Gerald went on:
"Admetus, who had been kind to Apollo, when that deity was sojourning on earth as an exile from heaven, wished to live for ever. ”

“ I persuaded her, with difficulty, to see Canon Barryfield, a most kind and venerable man, who married my dear husband and myself, and who was to have christened baby. She considers that the mother has a right to choose a girl's name, and the father a boy's. And now it's come to this! She refuses to discuss the matter with Gerald, and I'm the only means of communication between herself and my poor son, though of course she says 'yes' and 'no' to him before the servants. But this morning——" Mrs. Armitage broke off abruptly. ”

“ As the young man remained silent, "Have you yet told your wife that you mean to give in to this utterly unreasonable and indeed wickedly selfish desire of hers?" she asked, in a tone of suppressed anger. ”

“ It was very foolish of us to consent to their living with Gerald's mother, even for only part of the year. I don't know how to answer such a letter! It's so much easier to speak than to write——"
There rose from the floor a still small voice: "When you do see her, mother, do hand her the frozen mitt."
"The frozen mitt," said the Duchess gently, "never did anybody any good."
"As to that," said the Duke dryly, "opinions may differ. Just show me that letter."
He glanced over the two closely written sheets of note-paper. "The baby's name? What an extraordinary thing! ”

“ Armitage's face—a look of settled gloom and of surprised displeasure—which made the Duchess, for the first time in her life, feel a sudden fierce wish to follow her little girl's advice, and hand a fellow-being the frozen mitt! ”

“ Armitage!" murmured her daughter, putting her soft cheek against hers. "I thought I—I feared—that Gerald had written to complain of me. I should never have forgiven him that."
"It was very wrong of you to suspect him of doing such a thing. Poor Gerald! I wish you had heard him taking your part, when I said how very naughty and unreasonable you were showing yourself, dearest."
"Yet at first he was quite pleased with Alcestis! It was only after his mother and that stuffy old Canon Barryfield got at him that he changed."
"Men are like that," the Duchess answered, smiling.
"Father isn't." ”