er yet waked
up to any great extent, so far as I have seen or heard. No matter;
people will care for you all the same, Beauty, whether you care for them
or not. Don't fancy that I am the only one--far from it: but I have the
luck to be her adopted brother from infancy, and to have access to her
when others have not. She is not always kind--very seldom, in fact, up
to date: but it is a privilege to look at her, and any treatment from
her is good enough for me. She used to tyrannize over me in this way
when she was ten and I twenty, and so it will be, no doubt, to the end
of the chapter. Outside, I sometimes take on a man-of-the-world air, and
fancy that I can think of you lightly, my Princess--that is the correct
society tone, and it does not pay to display the finer feelings of our
nature to the general world: but when I come under the spell of your
presence, I know that that is all humbug, and that you are Fair Inez of
the ballad, God bless you. You and Hartman ought to get on together: it
might be a good thing for you both--him especially. Mabel and Jane are
women too, but they are as devoted to you as I am, according to their
lights, and more jealous for you: jealousy seems to be no part of me,
luckily. Well, between us we ought to be able to keep all harm from you,
if you will let us.

Of course I didn't say all this out loud, but only thought it. Then she
opened her eyes and yawned a little.

"Have I been asleep, Bob? I must have been: you tired me so. O yes, I
know you think a good deal of me: that is an old story. Well, anything
more?"

"Only about poor Hartman, dear: you didn't promise yet."

"Well, when he comes I will look him over and see what is to be done
with him. I must go upstairs and dress now." And with this I had to be
content.

This conversation occurred of a Sunday afternoon, when Mabel and Jane
had gone to Church, and taken Herbert with them: the infants were out
for an airing with their nurse. Fortunately there was a long missionary
sermon, and a big collection, to which I must send five dollars extra:
the occasion was worth that much to me. As the Princess left the room,
they came in. They looked at her, then at me. "What have you been doing
to Clarice, Robert?"

"Only preparing her to receive Hartman."

"Preparing her! you great goose, what does she want with your
preparation? You'll only prejudice her against him, and spoil any
chances he might have. Let her alone, do. Haven't you made