r,conservative,man,Englishman.Hedideverythingthoroughly,andhisenergywassuchthathemadeapointofputtingintoeveryconcerntwiceasmuchworkasitreallyneeded.Hewasbusyfrommorningtillnight(asarulequiteunnecessarily),andhegloriedinit.
“ItshowsI’manexcellentwoman,”saidBerthatoMissGlover,“tosupporthisvirtueswithequanimity.”
“Mydear,Ithinkyououghttobeveryproudandhappy.He’sanexampletothewholecounty.Ifheweremyhusband,IshouldbegratefultoGod.”
“Ihavemuchtobethankfulfor,”murmuredBertha.
Sincehelethergoherownwayandshewasonlytoopleasedthatheshouldgohis,therewasreallynopossibilityofdifference,andEdward,wiseman,cametotheconclusionthathehadeffectuallytamedhiswife.Hethought,withgood-humouredscorn,thathehadbeenquiterightwhenhelikenedwomentochickens,animalswhich,tobehappy,requirednomorethanagoodrun,wellfencedin,wheretheycouldscratchabouttotheirheart’scontent.
“Feed’emregularly,andlet’emcackleandthereyouare!”
Itisalwayssatisfactorywhenexperienceverifiesthehypothesisofyouryouth.
Oneyear,rememberingbyaccidenttheirwedding-day,Edwardgavehiswifeabraceletandfeelingbenevolentinconsequence,andhavingdinedwell,hepattedherhandandremarked:—
“Timedoesfly,doesn’tit?”
“Ihaveheardpeoplesayso,”shereplied,smiling.
“Well,who’dhavethoughtwe’dbeenmarriedeightyears!itdoesn’tseemaboveeighteenmonthstome.Andwe’vegotonverywell,haven’twe?”
“MydearEdward,youaresuchamodelhusband.Itquiteembarrassesmesometimes.”
“Ha,ha!that’sagoodone.ButIcansaythisformyself,Idotrytodomyduty.Ofcourseatfirstwehadourlittletiffs—peoplehavetogetusedtooneanother,andonecan’texpecttohaveallplainsailingjustatonce.Butforyearsnow—well,eversinceyouwenttoItaly,Ithink,we’vebeenashappyasthedayislong,haven’twe?”
“Yes,dear.”
“WhenIlookbackatthelittlerumpusesweusedtohave,uponmyword,Iwonderwhattheywereallabout.”
“SodoI.”AndthisBerthasaidquitetruthfully.
“Isupposeitwasjusttheweather.”
“Idaresay.”
“Ah,well—all’swellthatendswell.”
“MydearEdward,you’reaphilosopher.”
“Idon’tknowabo