as she does me: he might
not take it so kindly. To eliminate the metaphor, she is a master at the
wholesome process of taking a man down: not that I don't often deserve
it, or that it is not good for me. In fact, I've given her occasion,
from her youth up, to get her hand in; and admiration of her skill binds
up the wounds, so to speak, with which my whole moral nature is scarred
at least sixteen deep. In case you should not follow my imaginative
style, let me say in simpler language that I am used to it; but another
man might not understand it. I consumed some more humble pie--these
desserts occur frequently in the symposia of our conversations--and she
resumed.

"So I will leave him to Jane at first. She will be very sisterly and
gracious, and will make the first stages of his return to the world easy
and pleasant. This may last two days, or two weeks."

"O, don't overdo it. He talked of staying but a week or ten days."

"Dear Robert, you are so innocent. He will stay as long as I want him
to."

"What, whether you notice him or not?"

"Of course. Are you six years old? Have you never seen me in action
before?"

"Body of Venus and soul of Sappho, I give it up. Of course you can do
anything you like, but I never realized that you could do it without
seeming to take a hand in the game. I strew ashes on my head like
what's-his-name, and sit down in the dust at your feet. Forgive a
penitent devotee for forming such lame and inadequate conceptions of
your power. But what part do you want me to dress for in this improving
moral drama?"

"Your part is very simple. Of course I must be occupied. I should hardly
shine as a wall-flower."

"You would shine anywhere. If you were a violet by an old stone, you
couldn't be half or a quarter hidden from the eye. But the supposition
is impossible. If you were free, no other girl in the room would have a
chance."

"That is very passable, though not wholly new. You are improving, Bob.
If you would give your mind to it, I could mould you into tolerable
manners yet.--Well, I might get plenty of men from the houses around.
But they are tiresome--staler than you, my Robert, though I see less of
them--and I can't take the same liberties with them I do with you. You
are to belong to me as long as I may want you."

"That is not new at all, Princess. It has been so for years. Everybody
about the house knows that, even the servants--and all our friends."

"Yes, of course. But I am