“No,” she said, “that wouldn’t be fair. I shall make the rich one a little poorer and leave the poor one to be richer.” “Oh, I dare say it is pure altruism. But where is he? The new idea of marriage may imply strictly preserved personalities, but I always have fancied that husband and wife were quite indivisible on their bridal tour at least.” “How absurd! As if it wouldn’t be more dangerous to have him tire of me now than at any later time. I send him away every afternoon somewhere.” “Poor fellow!” “And I have been off buying St. Augustine souvenirs made in Philadelphia. Then I had a lot of little commissions. I promised my brother Cliff to send him a live alligator. I have just been buying it in that funny St. George’s Street.” “I didn’t notice it as you came in. Have you hitched him at the gate?” “Oh, no! he’s only a baby and goes by mail.” I glanced at her purse. “‘In her left hand riches.’” “Which is to say, ninety cents. Think of you quoting Scripture!” “You should be glad I didn’t say ‘Yielding pacifieth great offences.’” “I have more than a suspicion that you are thinking things you won’t say.” “Which would be futile, for you would know what I was thinking.” [Illustration] “What were you thinking?” “Perhaps of an inappropriate topic—marriage.” “How interesting! Tell me about it!” “It would be more sensible of me to go and find your husband and tell him he may come back, that you are dying to see him, and that you have spent all but ninety cents.” “Do you really think I am mean to send him away? Isn’t that a good idea of mine?” “It is an excellent theory. I like it. But I hate to see either of you able to carry it out.” “He isn’t able. He isn’t carrying it out. He is only doing what he is told.” “You have begun well.” “It is great fun—he never will obey so implicitly again.” “I doubt that. The habit of obedience once formed is tenacious in husbands as in others.” “I hope not. I should hate to have him stay so obedient. Don’t you think it nice of him to recognize my claims that on a bridal tour the bride must have her own way?” “Yes,” I admitted. “I do, and not the less nice of him because letting you have your own way is so dangerous.” “He seems to be utterly insensible to danger. It is charming.” “It is interesting to find that you have begun to understand him already. Dr. Johnson once said that few people who have lived with a man know what is remarkable about him. Probably he was right. Mrs. Johnson is known to have said that her husband was the most remarkable man she ever met, but there is no evidence that she knew _what_ was remarkable about him.”