d moonlight, as being truly
prophetic. Besides, having a wife so noble, so good and so wise, to make
it possible; how could our honeymoon be other than the most delightful
ever known to the history of love? You may trust me, dear heart, to do
my best towards making that prophecy come true!"

"In discussing honeymoons, even my own; I may not be permitted to trust,
in what is given to me to know. As a maiden of twenty-six summers, now
your wife; I know very well that a husband who is just, loving, noble
and true, is the most important of all factors, in securing the
perfection of the ideal honeymoon. That six-year ordeal of loyal,
patient love, which you have so thoughtfully analyzed and classified,
has made you very dear to me! In overcoming this ordeal so victoriously,
you have displayed a strength of character which has commanded my
admiration. You have been unselfish, courageous, persistent of purpose,
trustful, thoughtfully sagacious, perfectly trustworthy, and strictly
honorable. For these characteristics, so like those possessed by my
father; I love you more than for all else. Since crowned with conscious
life, my father has been to me, the standard of an ideal man! If ever a
daughter worshipped a father; I was that daughter. In character, you, of
all the men I have met, are the nearest like him. Stronger words of
praise than these, the lips of a proud, loving wife, could not utter!
Now Fillmore! My dear husband! I am going to kiss you, as an antidote;
lest the fervor of my speech, should make you vain, just a little!"

"The antidote seems to work like a charm! Yet, a speech so full of such
crushing praise, coming from the lips of the loveliest and most
thoughtful of wives, is very provocative to vanity. It makes my case so
desperate, that it really requires heroic treatment. To make the
antidote effective, I should say, increase the quantity of the dose;
administer very frequently!

"But seriously, my dear wife! I am overwhelmed by the tribute of praise,
which you have paid to my character! To me, the character of Fennimore
Fenwick, is nobleness personified! To have my own continually compared
with one so exalted, is a very trying ordeal. I tremble for the
consequences! I am now so happy, that in the very selfishness of my
love for you, I may shatter your ideal. To disappoint you; would be to
forfeit my paradise! In times of trial, I shall appeal to you as the
noblest and best of wives, to use your highest gifts