he address stamped in gold on the note-paper, and use boot-trees, and
never be without a cake in the house in case a friend dropped in to
tea. Nor should I think twice about putting on an extra clean pair of
cuffs in the week if wanted. We should keep two servants. I am
interested in the drama, if serious, and two or three times every month
I should take Eliza to the dress-circle. Our suburb has a train service
which is particularly convenient for the theatres. Eliza would wear a
dressy blouse,--she shares my objections to anything cut out at the
neck,--a mackintosh, and a sailor hat, the two latter to be removed
before entering. I should carry her evening shoes in a pretty
crewel-worked bag. We have often discussed it. Curiously enough, she
already has the bag, though we seldom have an opportunity to use it in
this way. Doubtless there are many other innovations which, with
appropriate means, I could suggest. But I have said enough to show that
they would all be in the direction of refinement and elegance, and the
money would not be spent in foolishness or vice.

As Eliza's husband, I should perhaps say a word or two about her. She
is a lady of high principles and great activity. Owing to my absence
every day in the exercise of my profession, she is called upon to
settle many questions,--as, for instance, the other day the question of
what contribution, if any, should be given to the local Fire
Brigade,--where a word of advice from me would have been useful. If not
actually independent, she is certainly not what would be described as a
clinging woman. Indeed, she does occasionally take upon herself to
enter on a line of action without consulting me, when my advice is
perfectly at her disposal, and would perhaps save her from blunders.
Last year she filled the coal-cellar (unusually large for the type of
house) right up at summer prices. Undoubtedly, she thought that she was
practising an economy. But she was dealing with a coal-merchant who
does not give credit--a man who requires cash down and sees that he
gets it. And--well, I need not go into details here, but it proved to
be excessively inconvenient for me. She has lost the silly playfulness
which was rather a mark of her character during the period of our
engagement, and if this is due to the sobering effects of association
with a steady and thoughtful character, I am not displeased. She
herself says it's the work, but the women do not always know. Possibly,
too,