of
health his presence distilled. Dawn, too, was so robust that there was
a likelihood of her being attracted by her opposite, and inclined to
favour a carpet knight before one of the open field.

Some men have brain and muscle, but this is a combination as rare as
beauty and high intellect in women, and almost as startling in its
power for good or evil; but apart from the combination the wholesome
athlete is generally the more lovable. When his brawn is coupled with
a good disposition, he sees in woman a fragile flower that he longs
to protect, and measuring her weakness by his beautiful strength, is
easily imposed upon. His muscle is an engine a woman can unfailingly
command for her own purposes, whereas brilliance of intellect, though
it may command a great public position in the reflected glory of which
some women love to bask, nevertheless, under pressure in the domestic
arena, is liable to be too sharply turned against wives, mothers, and
daughters to be a comfortable piece of household furniture. On the
other hand, the athlete may have the muscles of a Samson, and yet,
being slow of thought and speech, be utterly defenceless in a woman's
hands. No matter how aggravatingly wrong she may be, he cannot bring
brute force to bear to vanquish a creature so delicate, and being
possessed of no other weapon, he is compelled to cultivate patience
and good temper. Also, health and strength are conducive to equability
of temper, and hence the domestic popularity of the man of brawn above
the one of brain, who is not infrequently exacting and crossly
egotistical in his family relations where the other would be lenient
and go-easy.

The silence of my guest and myself was presently broken by Dawn
turning about under the counterpane.

"Good gracious! what have you got there?" inquired Ernest. "Is it that
old terrier you used to have?"

"Terrier, indeed! I have here a far more beautiful pet. Because you
are such a good child I will allow you just one glance. Come now, be
careful."

The girl's dress was unbuttoned at the throat, displaying a perfect
curve of round white neck; her tumbled brown curls strayed over the
dimpled oval face; the long jetty lashes resting on the flushed cheeks
fringed some eyelid curves that would have delighted an artist; the
curling lips were slightly parted showing the tips of her pretty
teeth, and the lifted coverlet disclosed to view as lovely a sleeping
beauty as any of the armoured knights