, and talked about the
weather and mountains and trout, as if he wanted to discuss such
frivolities. This soon got to be a bore, and I went to the new
smoking-room, inviting him to follow when he needed rational
conversation. He did not come at all, and I found afterwards that my
wife and sister had gone away presently, and left him alone with
Clarice--and they such sticklers for Propriety.

I expected to have some fun watching this tender pair; but I was
disappointed. There never is anything sensational to see when the
Princess is in action: she carries an atmosphere of quietness about with
her, and imposes it on those who come within her circle. Hartman broke
rules and bounds once last summer, but he seems unlikely to do it again.
The rest of us kept out of the way as much we could, and gave them
scope. I said to Jane that we ought to get up a torchlight procession,
or a big dinner, or something, in Jim's honor, but she scornfully told
me to wait at least till the engagement was announced. When he was with
me--which was little, for his time seemed to be much occupied, and his
weakness for tobacco nearly cured--he once or twice attempted some
drivel about disinterested friendship and undying gratitude; but I
stopped that. If there be one thing for which I profess no sympathy, it
is puling sentiment. He apparently did not care to discuss the progress
of his affair, which was a relief; it is a dreadful nuisance to have to
listen to lovers' talk, and I had enough of that at Wayback, when I
could not help myself. At our time of life a man ought to be occupied
with serious pursuits. But Jim is as if he had been asleep in a cave for
ten years, and waked up with his beard well grown and a large stock of
emotional aptitudes abnormally developed. I suppose Clarice likes this
kind of thing, but I wonder at her taste.

They had been at it a week or so when I stumbled upon them unawares one
day in the library. I tried to retreat, but they both called to me to
stop.

"Robert," said she, "we have quarrelled again. That is, he has."

"Yes, Bob," said Jim, "and you'll have to straighten it out for us as
you did before."

"This is too much," said I. "You had better take the next train for
home, and by next May my health will need another change and I'll come
up and attend to your case."

"This needs to be settled right away. Clarice wants to go to the woods
and live there the year round, and I can't permit such a sacrifice."