se. Poor Clarice! poor Hartman! And
yet you can't meddle with such high-strung folks. By and by she spoke.

"Bob, do you know why I come to you, instead of to Jane or Mabel?"

I was on the point of quoting Jane's valuable idea about my being a man,
but refrained.

"I could not ask any woman for what you give me. And you are half a
woman, Bob; you are so patient and loyal. Nobody else would be that."

"But Mabel and Jane love you too, dear. They would do anything for you."

"Yes, but that is more on equal terms. I am so exacting; I want so much,
and give so little. I suppose I was born so; and you have spoiled
me--all of you. O, I know I have treated you badly, Robert, often;
generally, in fact. I am proud and hateful, and you never resent it.
Only a man can be like that--to a woman: and very few men would be so.
You are not like other men, Bob: there is nobody like you. You are such
a useful domestic animal."

Perhaps I was getting unduly exalted when she let me down thus. I wish
Clarice at least would be less mixed--more continuous and consistent, so
to speak--when she sets forth my virtues. But one must take the Princess
as he finds her, and be content with any crumbs of approval she may
drop. Sometimes I think I am a fool about her; but when she talks as
she does to-night, I know I am not. There may be more amiable women, and
plenty more even-tempered; but there is only one Clarice. I may have
made that remark before, but it will bear repeating. It is not of me she
is thinking all this time: how should it be? O Hartman, Hartman, if you
could know what I know, and see what is before you!

Presently she spoke again. "Robert, why don't you ask me what I have
done? I know you are dying of curiosity."

"I can restrain my curiosity, rather than pry into your affairs, dear.
When you see fit, you will tell me. But if you wish it, I will ask you."

"No, it would be of no use. I can't tell you now; perhaps never. Robert,
where did you learn to respect a woman so?"

"Jane says I will never learn it. But I do respect you, Princess."

"That must have been when you had vexed her with some of your blunders:
you do make blunders, you know? But, Bob, do you know why I love you?"

This moved me so that I had to put myself on guard. She never said so
much as that before: it is not her way to talk about feelings or profess
much affection for anybody.

"I suppose because we were brought up together, and you are used to me.