mischief
enough between them already?"

That is all they know about it. Churchgoing sometimes fails to bring the
female mind into a proper frame. But you see they are ready to scratch
out even my eyes at the thought that I have been rubbing her down the
wrong way. No matter: I know what I know, and they need not try to make
me believe that these things will go right without proper management.

V.

CONSULTATION.

We usually go to Newport for the summer. As Mrs. Fishhawk says, the
bathing is so fine, and the cliffs are such a safe place for children to
play. Not that we care so much for the society: the Princess has seen
the vanity of that and been bored with it, and the rest of us are very
domestic people. After much persuasion through the mail, Hartman agreed
to join us there: I was to pick him up in New York and take him down. A
night or two before this, Clarice took me out on the aforesaid cliffs,
which afford a fine walk in the moonlight with the right kind of
company, but somewhat dangerous if you get spoony and forget to look
where you are going. The Princess, it is needless to say, never commits
this folly: she always has her wits about her, and wits of a high order
they are, as not a few men have found to their cost, myself
included,--many and many a time. She opened the ball.

"Robert, do you remember our compact?"

"I'm not likely to forget it. Your words are my law, more sacred and
peremptory than the Ten Commandments, or those of the old codger who
wrote 'em in blood because his ink had given out. As a servant looks to
the hand of his mistress, so am I to watch your dark blue eye for
direction and approval. Deign to cast a sweet smile, however faint, in
this direction occasionally: it won't cost you much, and will encourage
me. If the devotion of a lifetime--"

"Yes, I know all that: at least you've said it often enough. Now you
will have an opportunity to put it in practice. Drop generalities, and
come to business."

"My heart's queen, I am all attention. Speak, and thy slave obeys. Bid
me leap from yon beetling crag into the billows' angry roar--"

"Will you stop that, or shall I go into the house? We are not rehearsing
private theatricals now."

"Ah, indeed? I thought we might be. I expect to see some next week."

"You will see my place at table vacant if you don't keep quiet, and
listen to what I have to say. I can join Constance yet. You talk about
your affection for me and anxiety