ds to the weaker, from courtesy and compassion.
However, to proceed. We have both conjugated _amo_ before we ever saw
each other, so that our recurrence to the good old verb seemed somewhat
like a Saturday's repetition. As for _doceo_, we have been both
engaged in enforcing it, and successfully, Martha"--here he shook his
purse--"during the best portion of our lives; for which we have made
some of the most brilliant members of society our debtors. _Lego_ is
now one of our principal enjoyments; sometimes under the shadow of
a spreading tree in the orchard, during the serene effulgence of a
summer's eve; or, what is still more comfortable, before the cheering
blaze of the winter's fire, the blinds down, the shutters closed,
the arm-chair beside the table--on that table an open book and a warm
tumbler--and Martha, the best of wives--

"Attention, Mainwaring; my Beck's excepted."

"Martha, the best of wives--old Sam's Beck always excepted--sitting at
my side. As for _audio_, the truth is, I have been forced to experience
the din and racket of that same verb during the greater portion of my
life, in more senses than I am willing to describe. I did not imagine,
in my bachelor days, that the fermenting tumult of the school-room could
be surpassed by a single instrument; but, alas!--well, it matters not
now; all I can say is, that I never saw her--heard I mean, for I am on
_audio_--that the performance of that same single instrument did not
furnish me with a painful praxis of the nine parts of speech all going
together; for I do believe that nine tongues all at work could not have
matched her. But peace be with her! she is silent at last, and cannot
hear me now. I thought I myself possessed an extensive knowledge of
the languages, but, alas I was nothing; as a linguist she was without a
rival. However, I pass that over, and return to the subject of my toast.
Now, my dear Martha, since heaven gifted me with you--"

"Attention, Mainwaring! Eyes up to the ceiling, sir, and thank God!"

Mainwaring did so; but for the life of him could not help throwing a
little comic spirit into the action, adding in an undertone that he
wished to be heard. "Ah, my dear Sam, how glad I am that you did not bid
me go farther. However, to proceed--No, my dear Martha, ever since
our most felicitous conjugation, I hardly know what the exemplary
verb _audio_ means. I could scarcely translate it. Ours is a truly
grammatical union. Not the nominative ca