more
difference between two men than there is between a couple of hares. But
when there's three men to choose from, there's no trouble at all; and so
I say that it's yourself I'll marry this night and no one else--and let
you two men be sitting quiet in your places, for I'm telling you what
I'll do and that's the end of it."

"I'll give you my word," said the first man, "that I'm just as glad as
you are to have it over and done with."

"Moidered I was," said the second man, "with the whole argument, and the
this and that of it, and you not able to say a word but--maybe I will
and maybe I won't, and this is true and that is true, and why not to me
and why not to him--I'll get a sleep this night."

The Philosopher was perplexed.

"You cannot marry me, ma'am," said he, "because I'm married already."

The woman turned round on him angrily.

"Don't be making any argument with me now," said she, "for I won't stand
it."

The first man looked fiercely at the Philosopher, and then motioned to
his companion.

"Give that man a clout in the jaw," said he.

The second man was preparing to do this when the woman intervened
angrily.

"Keep your hands to yourself," said she, "or it'll be the worse for you.
I'm well able to take care of my own husband," and she drew nearer and
sat between the Philosopher and the men.

At that moment the Philosopher's cake lost all its savour, and he packed
the remnant into his wallet. They all sat silently looking at their feet
and thinking each one according to his nature. The Philosopher's mind,
which for the past day had been in eclipse, stirred faintly to meet
these new circumstances, but without much result. There was a flutter at
his heart which was terrifying, but not unpleasant. Quickening through
his apprehension was an expectancy which stirred his pulses into speed.
So rapidly did his blood flow, so quickly were an hundred impressions
visualized and recorded, so violent was the surface movement of his
brain that he did not realize he was unable to think and that he was
only seeing and feeling.

The first man stood up.

"The night will be coming on soon," said he, "and we had better be
walking on if we want to get a good place to sleep. Yep, you devil," he
roared at the ass, and the ass began to move almost before he lifted his
head from the grass. The two men walked one on either side of the cart,
and the woman and the Philosopher walked behind at the tail-board.

"If you w