by the time she came
it was dusk. Why is it that the garish day seems to freeze our finer
emotions, and reduce us to the monotonous level of a dull cold
practicality? It is under the calm light of moon and stars that soul
speaks to soul, and we gain those subtler experiences, those deeper
views of our own nature and that of our nearest and dearest, which so
far transcend the plodding sciences of the laboratory, the useless
learning of the pedant, and the empty wisdom of the children of this
world.

"Come, Robert, wake up; don't sit mooning there like a calf. Make your
report."

"Report?" said I, thus rudely startled from a train of thought which
might have borne rich fruit for coming generations. "What about?"

"What about? You forget yourself. Whose employ are you in?"

"Well, on Water Street I am supposed to be carrying on business for
myself, and at home I am the envied husband and father of a happy and
admiring family. Clarice, I was meditating on subjects of much moment;
and the duties of hospitality claim my valuable time. Did you wish to
speak to me particularly?"

"None of your nonsense, now. What did you talk about last night on the
boat?"

"All sorts of things. My conversation is always improving. I explained
to Jim that his reentrance on society could not be made under fairer
auspices; that models of deportment and of all the virtues would be
about him on every hand; that a pure atmosphere of love and peace
pervaded this modest mansion; that joy was unconfined; that we could lay
our weary heads on each other's bosoms in the repose of perfect trust,
knowing that not a thought entered any one of them which the angels
above might not look into with satisfaction, and--"

"You talk too much about bosoms, Robert: it is not in good taste. What
did you say about me?"

"Divil a word, bedad. Wasn't that right? Didn't you tell me to keep
dark, and not mention you?"

"Not unnecessarily. But didn't he ask?"

"He'd forgotten all about you. Now, Princess, don't be offended; there
was next to nothing to forget, you know. It's not as if he had ever seen
you, or really heard anything about you. O, I'll talk you up to him
whenever you say so; to-night, if you like. But I thought his forgetting
was what you wanted. Didn't I manage it well? Do own that now, please.
Let those cerulean orbs shed one ray of gentle light upon the path of a
weary wayfarer--yes, that's better. Have I merited your approval, Serene
Highness