ck tea; and, until it is granted, we will
continue to have matrimonial infelicity, marriages "of convenience,"
and, no marriages at all!

Now, I think, I have dilated enough upon the great question matrimonial.
I will not apologise for my digression, because I've only said what I
have long wished and intended to say about it on the first convenient
opportunity. However, as I have at last succeeded in making a clean
breast of the matter, I will revert to my original case.

Owing to the fact of our suburb being unfashionable, and our society
humdrum, as already explained, I had the pleasure of associating more
fully with Min, and seeing more of her domestic character than I might
have done if we had been both of "the world," worldly; although, as I
have also mentioned, I was not able to adore her at home very often, in
consequence of my noticing that her mother did not like me--seeing
which, of course I did not push my welcome at her house to too fine a
point.

Don't think that Mrs Clyde was inhospitable. Nothing of the sort. She
gave me a general invitation, on the contrary, to come in whenever I
pleased of an evening "to have a little music;" giving expression at the
same time to the sentiment, that she would be "very happy" to see me.
But, after that affair connected with Dicky Chips, I learnt caution. I
thought it better for me to make my approaches warily. Even to have the
gratification of gazing on one's heart's darling, it is not comfortable,
for a sensitive person, to accept too often the courtesies of a hostess,
by whom you are inwardly conscious that you are not welcomed.

Still, I did see her at home sometimes.

I used to go there, at first only occasionally; and then, when I found
Mrs Clyde did not quite eat me up, in spite of her cold manner, I went
regularly once a fortnight--always making my visit on the same day and
at the same hour of the evening; so, that Min learnt to expect me when
the evening came round, and told me that she would have recognised my
modest knock at the door, out of a hundred others.

Sometimes she and her mother and myself were all alone; but, more
frequently, other casual visitors would drop in, too, like me.

I liked the former evenings the best, however, as I had her all to
myself, comparatively speaking.

I could then watch her varying moods more attentively--the tender
solicitude and earnest affection she evinced for her mother:--the
piquant coquetry with which she