small piece of it some day; it
will rather improve him to have an inch or two less. I don't say he 's
handsome; but he 's just as good as he can be. Some people say that
if you are very fond of a person you always think them handsome; but I
don't agree with that at all. I am very fond of Gordon, and yet I am
not blinded by affection, as regards his personal appearance. He 's too
light for my taste, and too red. And because you think people handsome,
it does n't follow that you are fond of them. I used to have a friend
who was awfully handsome--the handsomest man I ever saw--and I was
perfectly conscious of his defects. But I 'm not conscious of Gordon's,
and I don't believe he has got any. He 's so intensely kind; it 's quite
pathetic. One would think he had done me an injury in marrying me, and
that he wanted to make up for it. If he has done me an injury I have n't
discovered it yet, and I don't believe I ever shall. I certainly shall
not as long as he lets me order all the clothes I want. I have ordered
five dresses this week, and I mean to order two more. When I told
Gordon, what do you think he did? He simply kissed me. Well, if that 's
not expressive, I don't know what he could have done. He kisses me about
seventeen times a day. I suppose it 's very improper for a woman to tell
any one how often her husband kisses her; but, as you happen to have
seen him do it, I don't suppose you will be scandalized. I know you are
not easily scandalized; I am not afraid of you. You are scandalized at
my getting so many dresses? Well, I told you I was spoiled--I freely
acknowledge it. That 's why I was afraid to tell Gordon--because when I
was married I had such a lot of things; I was supposed to have dresses
enough to last for a year. But Gordon had n't to pay for them, so there
was no harm in my letting him feel that he has a wife. If he thinks I am
extravagant, he can easily stop kissing me. You don't think it would be
easy to stop? It 's very well, then, for those that have never begun!"

Bernard had a good deal of conversation with Blanche, of which, so far
as she was concerned, the foregoing remarks may serve as a specimen.
Gordon was away from home during much of the day; he had a chemical
laboratory in which he was greatly interested, and which he took Bernard
to see; it was fitted up with the latest contrivances for the pursuit
of experimental science, and was the resort of needy young students,
who enjoyed, at Gordon's