he means," I explained, "that on the rare occasions when I employ
fiction, I do it purely in the interests of Truth. That goddess is
imperfectly provided with garments--excuse me for stating so scandalous
a fact, but it is so. Now this might have been well enough in Eden
before the fall, but it will not do now; so we have to make the poor
creature presentable, and pay her milliner's bills, which are often
high. It would have been far more congenial to my candid nature to tell
you all at once what I saw and heard that day in August; but such a
course might have been attended with unpleasant consequences. If you
will all forgive me, I will try not to do it again."

"I do not see my way to forgive you, brother," said Jane with a judicial
air, "unless Clarice does; and that appears doubtful. I will be guided
entirely by her."

"I have managed my own affairs so well without help, that you will
naturally all wish to be guided by me. It is a good deal for me to do;
but since Robert's misconduct has done no great harm, and rather than
come between brother and sister, I will--yes, I will forgive him." She
rose majestically, signed to me to do the same, and gave me both hands,
with the air of a sovereign conferring knighthood; we made an impressive
tableau. "And since you are all so quiet at last, I may finish my
speech, and state the reason for this act of leniency. As Mr. Hartman's
conversion is to be completed this time without fail, it is plainly
necessary that he should find us a united family."

XXXIV.

TO PERSONS ABOUT TO MARRY.

I would have liked to celebrate Jim's arrival by sundry pleasant and
appropriate remarks; but impressive warnings and entreaties had reached
me privately from three distinct quarters, urging me to efface myself on
this occasion, and keep in the background. I complied with these
suggestions, and there were no tumultuous rejoicings over the returning
prodigal. Mabel and Jane greeted him with unobtrusive warmth: Clarice
was rather stately and very calm; to look at her, you would have thought
this was an ordinary call. When they talk about my duplicity, they mean
that they want a monopoly of the article themselves. The visitor flushed
and trembled like a boy, till I felt sorry for him, and would have
offered him something to drink if they had given me a chance. Women are
so queer about such matters: instead of letting the poor man go off with
me, they pretended not to notice his confusion