a first. Yet he thought
that in any suitable marriage there might be enough benefit on both
sides to make it almost equally."

"Equally what?" Emily wondered.

John was trying to speak in a very matter-of-fact way, as merely laying
down his views.

"Equally advantageous," he said at last; and not without difficulty.

"John," said Emily, rallying a little, and speaking with the least
little touch of audacity,--"John, you are always fond of advancing your
abstract theories. Now, I should have thought that if a man had felt any
want in his first marriage, he would have tried for something more in a
second, rather than have determined that there was no more to be had."

"Unless his reason assured him in more sober hours that he had had all,
and given all that could in reason be expected," John answered. "I did
not confess to having felt any want," he presently added. "Call this,
since it pleases you, my abstract theory."

And then Emily felt that she too must speak; her dead husband deserved
it of her far more than his dead wife had ever done.

"I do please," she answered; "this can be only an abstract theory to me.
I knew no want of love in my marriage, only a frequent self-reproach--to
think that I was unworthy, because I could not enough return it."

"A most needless self-reproach," he answered. "I venture to hope that
people should never rebuke themselves because they happen to be
incapable of romantic passion, or any of the follies of youthful love."

"Intended to restore my self-esteem. Shall I not soon be able to make
you feel differently?" thought Emily. "You still remember Janie; you
will never let her be disparaged. I think none the worse of you for
that, my beloved--my hope."

He was silent till she glanced up at him again, with a sweet
wistfulness, that was rather frequent with her; turning half round--for
he stood at her side, not quite enough at his ease to look continually
in her face--he was much surprised to find her so charming, so naive in
all her movements, and in the flitting expressions of her face.

He was pleased, too, though very much surprised, to find that she did
not seem conscious of his intention (a most lovely blush had spread
itself over her face when she spoke of her husband), but so far from
expecting what he was just about to say, she had thrown him back in his
progress more than once--she did not seem to be expecting anything. "And
yet, I have said a good deal," he reflected;