t of her--one always did smile when one thought of Norah,
everybody did;--of her tomboy ways, her ringing laugh--there were those
who termed it noisy; her irrepressible frankness--there were times when
it was inconvenient. Would she ever become lady-like, sedate, proper?
One doubted it. I tried to picture her a wife, the mistress of a house.
I found the smile deepening round my mouth. What a jolly wife she would
make! I could see her bustling, full of importance; flying into tempers,
lasting possibly for thirty seconds; then calling herself names, saving
all argument by undertaking her own scolding, and doing it well. I
followed her to motherhood. What a joke it would be! What would she do
with them? She would just let them do what they liked with her. She and
they would be a parcel of children together, she the most excited of
them all. No; on second thoughts I could detect in her a strong vein of
common sense. They would have to mind their p's and q's. I could see her
romping with them, helping them to tear their clothes; but likewise I
could see her flying after them, bringing back an armful struggling,
bathing it, physicking it. Perhaps she would grow stout, grow grey; but
she would still laugh more often than sigh, speak her mind, be quick,
good-tempered Norah to the end. Her character precluded all hope of
surprise. That, as I told myself, was its defect. About her were none of
those glorious possibilities that make of some girls charming mysteries.
A woman, said I to myself, should be a wondrous jewel, hiding unknown
lights and shadows. You, my dear Norah--I spoke my thoughts aloud, as
had become a habit with me: those who live much alone fall into this
way--you are merely a crystal, not shallow--no, I should not call you
shallow by any mans, but transparent.

What would he be, her lover? Some plain, matter-of-fact, business-like
young fellow, a good player of cricket and football, fond of his dinner.
What a very uninteresting affair the love-making would be! If she liked
him--well, she would probably tell him so; if she didn't, he would know
it in five minutes.

As for inducing her to change her mind, wooing her, cajoling her--I
heard myself laughing at the idea.

There came a quick rap at the door. "Come in," I cried; and she entered.

"I came to say good-bye to you," she explained. "I'm just going out.
What were you laughing at?"

"Oh, at an idea that occurred to me."

"A funny one?"

"Yes."

"Tell i