10. Permanent mutual respect is necessary for a permanent mutual love. A woman can love without respect, but a man cannot. 11. The tight cord is the easiest to snap. 12. Let there be one law for both. 13. There is only one thing worse than quarrels in public. That is caresses. 14. Money is not essential to happiness, but happy people usually have enough. 15. So save some. 16. The easiest way of saving is to do without things. 17. If you can’t, then you had better do without a wife. 18. The man who respects his wife does not turn her into a mendicant. Give her a purse of her own. 19. If you save, save at your own expense. 20. In all matters of money, prepare always for the worst and hope for the best. Such was their course as far as this ambitious young couple could lay it. They may correct it by experience, and improve it by use, but it is good enough to guide them safely out to sea. CONFESSIONS ‘TELL me, Frank, did you ever love any one before me?’ ‘How badly trimmed the lamp is to-night!’ said he. It was so bad that he went off instantly into the dining-room to get another. It was some time before he returned. She waited inexorably until he had settled down again. ‘Did you, Frank?’ she asked. ‘Did I what?’ ‘Ever love any one else?’ ‘My dear Maude, what _is_ the use of asking questions like that?’ ‘You said that there were no secrets between us.’ ‘No, but there are some things better left alone.’ ‘That is what I should call a secret.’ ‘Of course, if you make a point of it—’ ‘I do.’ ‘Well, then, I am ready to answer anything that you ask. But you must not blame me if you do not like my answers.’ ‘Who was she, Frank?’ ‘Which?’ ‘O Frank, more than one!’ ‘I told you that you would not like it.’ ‘Oh, I wish I had not asked you!’ ‘Then do let us drop it.’ ‘No, I can’t drop it now, Frank. You have gone too far. You must tell me everything.’ ‘Everything?’ ‘Yes, everything, Frank.’ ‘I am not sure that I can.’ ‘Is it so dreadful as that?’ ‘No, there is another reason.’ ‘Do tell me, Frank.’ ‘There is a good deal of it. You know how a modern poet excused himself to his wife for all his pre-matrimonial experiences. He said that he was looking for her.’ ‘Well, I do like that!’ she cried indignantly. ‘I was looking for you.’ ‘You seem to have looked a good deal.’ ‘But I found you at last.’ ‘I had rather you had found me at first, Frank.’ He said something about supper, but she was not to be turned. ‘How many did you really love?’ she asked. ‘Please don’t joke about it, Frank. I really want to know.’ ‘If I choose to tell you a lie—’ ‘But you won’t!’ ‘No, I won’t. I could never feel the same again.’ ‘Well, then, how many did you love?’