rd, yes. I'll have a throne set up in the drawing-room, and
everybody shall approach you Siamese fashion. And perhaps I had better
come to you to see if my tie is right before dinner, and to practice
what I shall say when we have company."

"It might improve you. But Mabel should be competent to attend to those
trifles. On one point I must instruct you, though. I shall doubtless do
things that appear to you strange, perverse, incomprehensible. In such
cases it will be best for you to walk by faith. No meddling nor
espionage, mind."

"Clarice, you don't think me capable of playing the spy on you?"

"Not that exactly, but you sometimes indulge in little tricks and
stratagems: you like to think that you hoodwink your wife--not that it
ever succeeds--in small unimportant matters. Mabel and Jane may endure
your attempts, if they like; but don't try them on me. They would never
deceive me for a moment, of course; but I can't waste time in
explaining that to you in detail. Besides, your fancied success would
unsettle your mind, and so tend to disturb the domestic equilibrium."

"Good heavens, Clarice! would I lie to you?"

"No: you dare not. But let me have no subterfuges, no concealments, and
no criticisms. What I may do you cannot expect to understand, nor is it
necessary that you should."

"Well, thought has been hitherto supposed to be free. When I see you at
those little games of which you are to enjoy a monopoly, can't I have an
opinion of them?"

"O yes. The opinion will be of small value, but your poor mind must be
amused and occupied somehow, I suppose. But you will be carrying your
opinions about the house, and introducing an element of confusion. If
you could keep your own counsel, now--but that is hopeless."

"When you are operating on Hartman, for instance, it might confuse the
programme if I were to say anything to him, eh?"

"When I take Mr. Hartman up, it will be very much better for his welfare
and yours for you to leave him in my hands."

"O, he would rather be left there, no doubt, though they grind him to
powder. But what the deuce am I to do? If I mayn't talk to anybody else,
can't I come to you with my opinions--in odd moments, when your serene
highness has nothing better on hand?"

"You may bring your valuable ideas to me, and I will hear them, when I
have leisure and inclination. Yes, that will be best. But no
concealments, mind. When you think you know anything that affects me,
come to me