the hall and descend the
stairs, but she could not see Kitty. She could only hear the faint
click of coin dropping upon coin in the dining room below her. She
knew that Kitty was feeding Bobberts' education fund, and she
waited until she heard Kitty's door close again, and then she went
down and poured into the opening of the bank the remains of her
week's household allowance, and began the task of clearing the
table. As she worked the tears splattered down upon the plates as
she bent over them. How could Tom be so cruel and unfeeling?
Doubtless he was enjoying the thought of having hurt her feelings,
if he had not already forgotten all about her, taking his ease in
the hammock.

She glanced out of the window at him. There he lay, but as she
looked he raised his hands and struck himself twice on the head
with his clenched fists and groaned like a man in misery. For a
moment he lay still and then once more he struck himself on the
head, and drawing up his legs kicked them out angrily, like a
naughty child in a tantrum. He was _not_ having the most blissful
moments of his life. Once more he drew up his legs and kicked, and
the hammock turned over and dumped him on the floor of the porch.

"Ouch!" he exclaimed quite normally, and looking up he saw his wife,
and smiled. She not only smiled, but laughed, somewhat hysterically
but forgivingly.

X

TARIFF REFORM

If a man really likes to wipe dishes, while his wife washes them,
there is no better time for friendly confidences, and for the
arrangement of difficulties. Diplomatists win their greatest battles
for peace at the dinner-table, because the dinner-table gives
abundant opportunity for the "interruption politic." When the
argument reaches the fatal climax, and the final ultimatum is
delivered, a boiled potato may still avert war: "Now, me lud, I ask
you finally, will your government, or won't it? That is the
question," and from the opposing diplomat come the words, "Beg
pardon, your ludship, but will you kindly pass me the salt? Thanks!
Don't you think the butter is a little strong?" and war is averted.
Postponed, at least.

Just so over the dish-wiping; the hard and fast logic of who's right
and who's wrong is interrupted and turned aside by timely
ejaculations of: "Oh, I did wipe that cup!" or interpolated
questions, as: "Have you washed this plate yet, my dear?" A wise man
who finds himself cornered can always drop one of the blown-glass
tumblers o