ld--of erudition there was not a
sign, of wisdom in Brosy's sense not a word; but what of that? The happy
result was that I understood him, and I know we were very merry. If I
were Charlotte nothing would induce me to stir from the side of a
good-natured man who could make me laugh. Why, what a quality in a
husband, how precious and how rare. Think of living with a person who
looks at the world with the kindliest amused eyes. Imagine having a
perpetual spring of pleasant mirth in one's own house, babbling coolly
of refreshing things on days when life is dusty. Must not wholesomeness
pervade the very cellars and lumber-rooms of such a home? Well, I meant
to do all in my power to persuade Charlotte to go into the home again.
How delightful to be the means of doing the dear old man beside me a
good turn! Meanwhile he walked along happily, all unconscious that I was
meditating good turns, perhaps happy for that very reason, and full of
confidence in his ability to catch and to keep Charlotte. 'Where she
goes I go with her,' he said. 'I now have my summer leisure and can
devote myself entirely to her.'

'Do not fall into abstractions then, dear Professor, at important
moments,' I said; and inwardly rehearsed the eloquent pleadings with
which I meant to shake Charlotte's soul when next I saw her.

We said good-bye where the wood ends and the white path goes out into
the sun. 'Be sure you let me know when you meet Charlotte,' I said. 'I
want particularly to speak to her. Something really important. Tell her
so. And I have a letter for her if I can't see her. Don't forget I sleep
at Glowe to-night. I'll telegraph where I stay to-morrow. Don't forget.
Won't you be very nice and make notes of it?'

He promised, wished me Godspeed, kissed my hand, and turned back into
the wood swinging his stick and humming gay little tunes; and I went on
in the sun to Lohme.

There I bathed again, a delicious solitary bathe just as the woman was
locking up for the day; and afterwards, when she had gone away up the
cliff to her dinner, I sat on the empty beach in the sun and thought of
all I was going to say to Charlotte. It interested me so much that I
forgot I had meant to lunch at Lohme, and when I remembered it it was
already time to go up and meet the carriage. It did not matter, as the
midday meal is the best one to leave out, and Lohme is not the kind of
place I would ever want to lunch in. The beach at the foot of the cliffs
is quiet a