had met with. Come to think
of it, I have not got rid of them. They continue to cultivate my
acquaintance and on account of their attentions (polite but persistent)
I have been compelled to lay aside temporarily my investigation into
the character of the atmosphere around Aldebaran, a most delicate work
upon which I am hoping to rear the superstructure of my fame.

I admit that these attentions rather flatter me; it is possible that
after a time--say a year or two--I may weary of the courteous gentleman
who is now seeking to sell me a dozen apple-trees, one-third cash,
balance in ten years. I may, in the lapse of time, become indifferent
to the blandishments of him who daily for the last two months has been
trying to convince me that I cannot reach the summum bonum of human
happiness until I have invested four dollars in Perkins' patent
automatic garden rake and step-ladder combination. The gentleman who
has the smoke-consumer, the gentleman who deals in shrubbery, the
gentleman who advocates lightning rods, and the other gentlemen who
represent the tantamount interests of lawn statuary, fancy poultry,
patent paving, etc., etc., etc.--I may, in the flight of years, become
insensible to their charms, for there is no change that is not rendered
possible by the capricious offices of Time. But at present I can
hardly realize how these people can ever be other than they now
are--near to me, as I know, and dear to me, as I feel.

I did not suspect, before I became a householder, that the mere
possession of property was capable of making a man an object of such
unflagging interest to his fellow creatures. I find it very
pleasing--the solicitude with which these newly-made acquaintances (the
venders, agents, and other polite gentlemen) regard me, and attend upon
me, and seek to gain my approval. It is sweet to be beloved.

In the very height of this enjoyment, however, there are considerations
which serve to cause me feelings of disquietude. My conscience
constantly reproves me for the deception which I am practising upon
these people. It occurred to me several weeks ago that I had no right
to pose as the proprietor of our new house. The new house and its
circumadjacent real estate belong not to me, but to Alice and to her
heirs and assigns forever. I have no proprietary rights in that house
or upon that expansive lawn; If I am there, it is simply as a piece of
furniture, like the stove, or the clock, or the centr