_TWELVE_

A doctor, who was making a study of monkeys, once told me that he was
trying experiments that bore on the polygamy question. He had a young
monkey named Jack who had mated with a female named Jill; and in
another cage another newly-wedded pair, Arabella and Archer. Each pair
seemed absorbed in each other, and devoted and happy. They even hugged
each other at mealtime and exchanged bits of food.

After a time their transports grew less fiery, and their affections
less fixed. Archer got a bit bored. He was decent about it, though, and
when Arabella cuddled beside him he would more or less perfunctorily
embrace her. But when he forgot, she grew cross.

The same thing occurred a little later in the Jack and Jill cage, only
there it was Jill who became a little tired of Jack.

Soon each pair was quarreling. They usually made up, pretty soon, and
started loving again. But it petered out; each time more quickly.

[Illustration: Archer felt bored]

Meanwhile the two families had become interested in watching each
other. When Jill had repulsed Jack, and he had moped about it awhile,
he would begin staring at Arabella, over opposite, and trying to
attract her attention. This got Jack in trouble all around. Arabella
indignantly made faces at him and then turned her back; and as for
Jill, she grew furious, and tore out his fur.

But in the next stage, they even stopped hating each other. Each pair
grew indifferent.

Then the doctor put Jack in with Arabella, and Archer with Jill.
Arabella promptly yielded to Jack. New devotion. More transports. Jill
and Archer were shocked. Jill clung to the bars of her cage, quivering,
and screaming remonstrance; and even blase Archer chattered angrily at
some of the scenes. Then the doctor hung curtains between the cages to
shut out the view. Jill and Archer, left to each other, grew
interested. They soon were inseparable.

The four monkeys, thus re-distributed, were now happy once more, and
full of new liveliness and spirit. But before very long, each pair
quarreled--and made up--and quarreled--and then grew indifferent, and
had cynical thoughts about life.

At this point, the doctor put them back with their original mates.

And--they met with a rush! Gave cries of recognition and joy, like
faithful souls reunited. And when they were tired, they affectionately
curled up together; and hugged each other even at mealtime, and
exchanged bits of food.