w you come to be
caught in the other trap, the trap of wedlock--you, a man of years and
experience, and pre-eminently a man of caution."

He hung his hat on the support of my reflecting-screen, and passed his
hand thoughtfully over his smooth crown--I had always felt sure that
his head was bald--and I imagined I saw an uneasy look creep into his
eyes.

"It be very cur'ous, Miss Holden," he said, in a confidential tone,
"very cur'ous.... Said to myself many a time ... hunderds of times....
'Don't 'ee be a fool, Simon ... women be kittle cattle,' I says ...
some weepin' sort ... some blusterin' ... but all masterful ... an'
costs a lot o' money ... awful lot o' money to keep up.... Went into
't wi' my eyes open ... oh yes; very cur'ous.... Come to think on 't
... dunno why I done it."

"Don't worry, Mr. Higgins," I said soothingly; "many animals flourish
splendidly in captivity, and if they miss their freedom they never say
anything about it, but look quite sleek and contented. And I am sure
you have secured a very capable and good-natured wife, and are to be
heartily congratulated. Now fetch her in and I will be getting the
camera ready."

"Fetch her in?" he inquired.

"Yes, I shall be ready by the time you return, and it will be the work
of only a moment or two to arrange you suitably."

"But she isn't goin' to have 'er photygraph taken," he said, with an
emphatic shake of the head; "only me."

"Do you mean to tell me," I remarked severely, "that you will not be
photographed together on your wedding day? Mr. Higgins, it is quite
the customary thing, and I certainly never heard of such a procedure as
you are suggesting. Besides, it costs no more."

"Costs the same? ... for two as for one?"

"Certainly," I replied.

"Taken separate, like?" he continued.

"No, if taken separately the cost would be doubled, but on wedding
occasions the bride and bridegroom are almost invariably photographed
together, and that involves no extra cost."

He thought this over for half a minute and then made up his mind
definitely.

"I'll be taken by myself," he said, "... to match this 'ere."--He drew
from his breast-pocket a rather faded photograph, cabinet size, which
displayed a younger Mrs. Robertshaw in the fashion of a dozen years
before.--"Maria got these ... just afore Robertsha' died ... has best
part of a dozen on 'em .... gave Robertsha' 's away ... pity to waste
these ... 'll do nicely."

"But Mr. Higgins,