; deep principles of human
nature, and rules for the conduct of life, and such. It did him no end
of good: and then he said that if I didn't talk to you that way, you
couldn't know me as well as he does."

"He must know you remarkably well then. Just like a man's conceit. Poor
Bob, who should know you through and through if I don't?--Why don't you
talk to me that way then, and improve me too?"

"As the Scotchwoman said when they asked her if she understood the
sermon, Wad I hae the presumption? When you catch me taking on airs and
trying to improve you, make a note of it. No, no, Princess dear; the
lecturing and improving between us had better remain where they are."

"But, Robert, perhaps I would like to have you vary this continual
incense-burning with snatches of something else."

"I dare say. Do you know, Clarice, sometimes I think I am an awful fool
about you."

"That is what the doctors call a congenital infirmity, my dear. No use
lamenting over what you can't help. Worship me as much as you like; it
keeps you out of mischief. But you might change the tune now and then,
and give me some of your alleged wisdom."

"Shall I becloud that pure and youthful brow with metaphysic fumes?
Should I soil your dainty muslins with the antique dust of folios, and
oil from the midnight lamp? You wait till you take up Hartman; perhaps
you can stand it from him. But if I were to hold forth to you in the
style he prefers, you would get sick of me in twenty minutes. Let it
suffice that my lonely vigils are spent in severe studies and profound
meditations, the fruit whereof, in a somewhat indirect and roundabout
way, may make smooth and safe the path that is traversed by your fairy
feet. In the expressive language of the poet, Be happy; tend thy
flowers; be tended by my blessing."

"I know about your lonely vigils, Bob; they are spent on cigars, and
making up jokes to use next morning. But you are not as bad as usual
to-day. Do you know, I like you better when you are comparatively
serious."

"Then let me be ever thus, my Queen! It is the solemnizing influence of
being so much with you. If you keep it up for another week, you'll have
to send me off to New York to get secularized. I say, Clarice, how long
do you mean to go on in this way? It's all very nice for me, but how
about Hartman? _He's_ not frivolous; he takes Life in awful earnest.
What do you propose to do with him after you've got him--I should say,
after the fatal