gnedly, ungrudgingly glad that they
were so much more fortunate than himself. Oh, he is a marvel! I adore
him. I would give worlds to be like him. I am bursting with pride at
being the woman he has chosen out of all the world; but he spoils me so,
that it's becoming second nature to want all my own way, so I keep
falling farther and farther behind."

"Robert wouldn't admit that! No doubt he thinks himself the laggard,
and you just such another paragon as you have described."

Jean pursed her lips in a whimsical grimace.

"No! The droll part of it is, he does _not_. He doesn't understand me
one bit; I'm a continual enigma to him. Half the time he is puzzled out
of his wits, and the other half he is--_shocked_. Such eyes! You
should see them staring at me, growing bigger and bigger, when I let
myself go, and grumble or rage. He disapproves, but he makes excuses,
because I am I, and he loves me, and wouldn't change me for the greatest
paragon alive." She was silent, smiling mischievously to herself for
several minutes, then burst out suddenly:

"Can you imagine it, Vanna? I sometimes wish he were not quite so good!
It's aggravating for a sinner like me to be shown up continually
against such a contrast. And sometimes it lands one in such fixes... I
could tell you such stories of this year!" She snuggled back against
her cushions. "Ah, it _is_ good to have you here. I have so longed for
a girl to talk to... The first six months we went about a great deal,
paying visits to his friends. The first time I asked him to describe
the people, as I knew them only by name. `Oh, Meg!' he said, `Meg is
the simplest of creatures: kindly, and easy-going as you find 'em.
You'll feel at home in five minutes. No fuss, no ceremony. The sort of
house where you feel absolutely at home.' Well, what would _you_ expect
from that description? I saw a vision of a suburban villa, and a stout,
frumpy woman with a fat smile, and packed a modest little semi-evening
frock to let her down gently. My dear! it was a mansion, and she was
the very smartest creature I have ever beheld. The first glimpse of her
in afternoon clothes took away my breath; but there was worse to come.
She had asked a dozen people to dinner to meet us, and while we were
dressing--it was a summer evening, and quite light--I saw carriages
bowling up to the door, and visions in satin dresses trailing up the
steps. There was nothing for it; I put on my wr