rying to think
ahead, and prepare myself for the horrible moment when Martin wants to
talk sense!"

They both laughed, but Cassandra was conscious of a pricking of
conscience. It had never occurred to her to "work hard" to preserve her
husband's love. Like many another woman she had taken for granted that
once secured, it would automatically remain her own; she had grieved
over a divergence of interest, as a calamity beyond her control. How
could one "prepare" against such a contingency?

"I'm not at all sure that I agree with you," she said restlessly. "The
`happy-ever-after' theory has its drawbacks, but it's very sweet while
it lasts, and your other seems prosaic from the start. To have to work
hard, to `struggle' for one's husband's love!"

"Well, why not? Is there _any_ big thing in life which one gains, or
keeps without a fight? And this is the biggest of all, and the most
fragile and easily lost. Think! among all your friends how many could
come to stay in your house for one month, that you wouldn't be thankful
to part from at the end? I don't say you stop caring for them, but
you've had enough! You say to yourself: `Emmeline is an angel, but that
giggle of hers drives me daft. Thank the gods she's leaving to-day!' or
`Emmeline's a perfect dear, I'm devoted to her, but _have_ you noticed
the way she wriggles her nose? It's got on my nerves to such an extent
that I can't bear it an hour longer.' And you stand on the platform and
wave your hand, and draw a great big sigh of relief as the train puffs
away, and within the railway carriage Emmeline is sighing too, and
feeling unutterably relieved to be rid of you! ... You know it's true!"

"Oh!" laughed Cassandra, "don't talk of a month. A week is enough for
me. Less than a week!"

"Then why wonder at the difficulties of marriage? There's no magic in a
few words spoken at the altar, to make two people impervious to each
other's faults. It's the most wonderful and beautiful of miracles when
they manage to live tied together for twenty, thirty, even fifty years,
and to be decently civil until the end. It's worth any amount of effort
to accomplish. I adore my husband, I adore myself, but we are mortal...
we have failings; and as we grow older they'll grow worse. At present
we are both blind, but there will come a time when our eyes are opened.
I know. I've seen. I've watched. I've taken warning. I'm going to
prepare myself in advance."

"W