Wonderful, it is needless to say, was in the city. The
bear-skin was but one of many such soft trophies of the chase which
were spread upon the floors or upon soft lounges and divans. Over this
particular skin there was much said, at times, when there were guests.

Jean would explain to some curious person, that she herself had shot
the original wearer of the skin, and that her husband was up a tree at
the time, and there would be odd looks, and he would explain nothing,
and then she, woman-like, must needs spoil the mystery by telling all
about it, as if any one would not comprehend some jest in the matter!
It was a home of rugs and books, and very restful. I liked to go
there, where they both spoiled me, and where the softness and the
perfume of it all made me useless and dissatisfied after I had come
away. There is no reason in the average man. But in the Eden was one
great serpent--not a real serpent, but a glittering one, like the toy
snakes sold at Christmas time.

There is some weakness in our American training of girls. Visibly and
certainly the woman who marries a man engages herself to conduct his
household--to relieve him of all troubles there--because he is the
bread-winner. But very few girls seem trained with such idea, though
all girls look forward to a marriage and such mutually helpful compact
between two human beings. It is, of course, the fault of a social
growth, the fault of mothers, the fault of many conditions. And Jean
did not know how to cook! She was a woman of keen intelligence, of all
sweetness and all faithfulness, yet she found herself almost helpless
when she became the chatelaine of the castle where Grant was to come to
dinner.

It is needless to tell of all that happened. The woman was adroit in
the engagement of domestics, and there were dinners certainly, and,
possibly, good ones, but the knowingness of it all was wanting. He
felt it, and wondered a little, but did not fret. He knew the woman.
One evening they were together, after dinner again, just as they had
been when he told her he would take her to the woods, and she lay
coiled up upon a divan, while he sat beside her. It was their
after-dinner way. She spoke up abruptly and very bravely:

"Grant, I'm a humbug."

"Certainly, dear; what of it?"

"I mean--and it's something serious--I really am, you know, and I want
to tell you."

"Go ahead, midget."

She did not seem altogether reassured, but plunged in ga