y
a hundred out. Very good, I call it, when you remember that I had _no_
experience. The first time we had asparagus for dinner I couldn't eat a
bit. I just sat staring at every stick. You have always to pay for
experience. Besides, as I said to Rob, you are only newly married once,
and it would be a sin to rub off the bloom worrying about pennies. It's
silly to spoil the present for the sake of what may happen in a dozen
years. We may be dead, or if we are not, we shall probably be better
off. Rob's position will be improved, the boys' education will be
finished, and father can allow me more. Men are so fussy about
capital... Vanna, do you realise that it is a whole year since I've
seen you? You have told me very little about yourself in your letters.
There's so much I want to hear. Not about Miggles to-day--we'll leave
that. I don't want to cry. Tell me about yourself!"

"Oh, not yet! One thing at a time. I've not half finished with you,"
said Vanna with a thrill of nervousness, which she tried her best to
conceal. "There are a hundred things that I am longing to hear. But
first about Robert. How is he? Well--flourishing--giving
satisfaction--as nice as ever?"

"Nice!" Jean tossed her head in disdain. "What a paltry word. He is
the best man out of Heaven, my dear. That is the only description for
_him_. I've lived with him for eighteen months, and have not discovered
one single, solitary fault. That's simple truth, not exaggeration. I
honestly believe he is perfect."

"And with you for a wife! You are a darling, Jean; but method was never
your strong point, and by your own account your housekeeping hasn't
always been a success. Does he continue to smile through all the
upsets, and forgettings, and domestic crises, such as you described to
us at Seacliff? I can't believe it of a mere man!"

"Oh, I didn't mean to say that he preserves a dead-level calm. I should
hate him if he did. He is rather irritable in small ways. You can
excite him to frenzy--comparatively speaking--by moving the matches from
his dressing-room, or mislaying his sponge or nail scissors; but then it
is the servants who get blamed--never me; and in big things he is great!
If he became paralysed to-morrow, or lost every penny he possessed, or
if!"--Jean's face sobered--"_died_, he might suffer tortures, but he
would not speak one word of rebellion, and he would keep his interest in
other people, and be truly, unfei