or be cheated after that manner.
Perfection is impossible. Better see the young woman as she really is,
bad and good together."

"The young woman! The fair divinity, you mean!"

"No;" shutting his mouth over the negative in his firm way--"I strongly
object to divinities. How unpleasant it would be to woo an angel of
perfection, and find her out at last to be only--only Mrs.--"

"Halifax," suggested I; at which he laughed, slightly colouring.

"But how woeful must be our dearth of subjects, when we talk such
nonsense as this! What suggested it?"

"Your friend in the grey gown, I suppose."

"Requiescat in Pace! May she enjoy her eggs! And now I must go saddle
the brown mare, and be off to Norton Bury. A lovely day for a ride.
How I shall dash along!"

He rose up cheerily. It was like morning sunshine only to see his
face. No morbid follies had ever tainted his healthy nature,
whatsoever romance was there--and never was there a thoroughly noble
nature without some romance in it. But it lay deep down, calm and
unawakened. His heart was as light and free as air.

Stooping over my easy chair, he wheeled it to the window, in sight of
the pleasant view.

"Now, Phineas, what more books do you want? You'll take a walk before
dinner? You'll not be moping?"

No; why should I, who knew I had always, whether absent or present, the
blessing, the infinite blessing, of being first in his thoughts and
cares? Who, whether he expressed it or not--the best things never are
expressed or expressible--knew by a thousand little daily acts like
these, the depth and tenderness of his friendship, his brotherly love
for me. As yet, I had it all. And God, who knows how little else I
had, will pardon, if in my unspeakable thankfulness lurked a taint of
selfish joy in my sole possession of such a priceless boon.

He lingered about, making me "all right," as he called it, and planning
out my solitary day. With much merriment, too, for we were the gayest
couple of young bachelors, when, as John said, "the duties of our
responsible position" would allow.

"Responsible position! It's our good landlady who ought to talk about
that. With two sets of lodgers, a husband, and an indefinite number of
children. There's one of them got into mischief at last. Hark!"

"It's Jack, my namesake. Bless my life! I knew he would come to grief
with that donkey. Hey, lad! never mind. Get up again."

But soon he perceived that the acc