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“Yes! I hoped so!”

“Well, madam, you will soon find out that you are married to a man who is not to be trifled with in this way.”

“Oh, gracious Peter! what’ll you do with me?”

“I’ll send you back to your father’s–to your pinafores–to your nursery–and I’ll leave the country for two or three years, until a divorce can be obtained for separation. You may obtain the divorce, madam. I shall never want to hold one of your perfidious sex in my arms again. Women are one vast bundle of folly.”

“I am a vast bundle of folly,” sobbed Nellie, spasmodically, “but all of them are not–they’re not–I can prove it.”

“I desire no proof from a woman of your–of your–of your calibre.”

“I never was so sorry for anything in my life, Theodore. If you’ll forgive me this time, I’ll try and make you such a good wife. I won’t disregard your advice, nor anything–nor–“

Mrs. Grenly wiped her tears on the corner of her shawl, and took occasion to look at her husband as she did so.

“You may come here, madam!”

Madam went, knowing the victory was won; her tears were dry in a moment.

“Nellie Grenly, look me right in the eyes!”

“Yes! there!”

And she concentrated her glorious laughing eyes upon him, trying very hard not to make a display of rebellious dimples. He began to doubt whether he had made a judicious request.

“Now, promise me,” he said, “that as long as you live, you never will do anything I disapprove of; because it’s clear you are a perfect baby.”

“Oh! I can see myself in your eyes, just as plain as day!”

“Promise me.”

“Did you know that your eyes were not all blue, but streaked–and streaked. What’s the nature of the eye, tell me? What are its functions? You are always talking about duty, and functions, and all that.”

“Ellen!” sternly.

“What?” very sweetly. “Oh! I guess I’ll go and get a drink.”

“No! you won’t stir a step, until you solemnly assure me that you never will go to any place that I advise you against.”

“Oh! I hate to make such a promise.”

“The reason I ask it, is because thousands of innocent women have been misjudged for innocent actions; and I would not have my little Nellie misjudged, when she is pure as an angel.”

“I promise!”

“How did you feel, Nellie, when I threatened a separation?”

“I felt as if you couldn’t be coaxed into it.”

“Get down, this instant!”,

And down went Nellie, with a little delicious peal of laughter. A profound silence of four minutes continuance.

“I don’t know that I care if you come back.”

And back went Nellie, keeping her bewitching little mouth closed, until she could drop her face upon her husband’s shoulder, and laugh to her heart’s content.

“Do you know, Nellie, that some men would have sulked a month over your conduct to-night? Haven’t you got an indulgent husband?”

“That I have. You don’t thrust wrong constructions on my folly; and that is the very reason I am going to try and be as good and innocent as you think me. I feel as if I have been acting so wrongly.”