"No one can afford a disagreeable breakfast, Robert. It spoils the whole day. And I might waste weeks and months trying to like the odor of boiled salt herring, and never succeed--it is sickening to me." "It does not make me sick. I have had a boiled salt herring to breakfast ever since I was seven years old." "You have learned to bear them." "I like them." "Did you like them at first?" "No, but I was made to eat them until at last I learned to relish them. Mother believed them to be good for me. Now, I do not think my breakfast perfect without a boiled salt herring." "We can force nature to take, and even enjoy poisons like whiskey and opium, but I think such an education sinful and unclean." "Dora, you are too fastidious." "No, because a wronged body means something to a sensitive soul." "If you look at such a small thing in a light so important, you had better take your breakfast alone. Good-morning!" CHAPTER IV FOES IN THE HOUSEHOLD She was ill for some hours, and all day much troubled at the circumstance. In her proposed fight against the hatred of her husband's family she had lost the first move, for she could well imagine the triumphant mockery of her mother-in-law over her weakness and squeamishness. In the afternoon she asked for the carriage, as she wished to do some shopping, and was told Mrs. Campbell was intending to use it. Then she sent for a cab and while she was dressing, Christina came into her room wearing her street costume. "Isabel is going out with mother," she said. "Can I go with you, Theodora?" The proposal was not welcome, but without hesitation Theodora answered: "I shall be obliged if you will. I have some shopping to do, and you can tell me the best places to go to." "I certainly can; I know all the best shops. I always do the shopping. I like to shop; Isabel hates it. She says the shopmen are not civil to her. Isabel is so particular about her dignity." "That is rather a good quality, is it not?" "I don't know--with that kind of people--shopmen and the like--it is rather a daft thing to do." "Daft?" "Silly, I mean. They have to wait on you, why should you care how they do it? I don't." "I am ready. Shall we go now?" "I am ready. What will you buy first?" "Linen--sheets, pillow-cases, table-cloths, napkins, etc. We shall want a linen draper." "Then tell cabby to drive us to Smith and McDonald's. It is perfectly lovely to be with you, and without mother and Isabel to snub me. I feel as if I were having a holiday." "Perhaps I might snub you." "I am sure you will not. I believe I am going to have a happy afternoon."