"’That may be,’ she said, jumping up and giving me a kiss; ’but men are so conceited, dearest, and when he hears that you are moping here--they are sure to tell him you are moping, because women are always supposed to mope in the eyes of the male sex when deprived of their company--he’ll believe it. Besides, think what people will say--that your husband was tired of you in less than a week, and that you are waiting here in solitude till he sees well to return. No, if I were you, he and the world should see that you don’t want him, and that there are plenty of people dying to fall in love with you. Men never care for what they can have--at least, so it’s said. But if you leave the thing to me, I’ll answer for it we will bring him as a beggar to these gates before many months are over, and he will cry to be let in on any terms!’ "’But I won’t have him on any terms,’ I said. ’Nothing would induce me to live with him.’ "’Oh! that doesn’t matter at all,’ she replied, ’so long as we bring him to the door. There is no fun shutting the portal to one who thinks the place not worth an assault. People never believe in the old maid’s desire for celibacy, unless she produces her proposals. That is why I intend to make all my lovers propose by letter; then when I’m an old maid, I shall have them framed and hung round the room, with photographs of the best-looking, and incomes of the wealthiest underneath.’ "I have given this conversation rather fully, as it may help you to understand my friend’s character, and also how the changes in our manner of life, of which I am going to tell you, came about; for this talk, and many on the same subject, no doubt influenced me more than I fancied at the time. "I was bitterly angry with my husband, and the fact that he had made no sign of wishing to see me aggravated the feeling. I heard from my father that he had returned, and pictured him enjoying his life in town. The idea that he imagined that I was quietly waiting his coming, was unbearable, and after a little opposition, I eventually adopted the plan which Amy suggested. "Somerville is about five miles from the Cathedral City of L----. It is a gay little place, owing chiefly to the barracks, which are situated about a mile on our side of the town. The large number of officers quartered there at this time favoured our plan.