thing capitally. But let me give you a test. Think of the very best
housekeeper you ever met. Would you like to have her here instead of me?
You may be quite candid."

Riatt stopped and considered an instant with his head on one side. "She'd
make me awfully comfortable," he said.

Miss Fenimer nodded, as much as to say: yes, but even so--

"No," he said at length, as if the decision had been close. "No, after
all I would rather do the work and have you. But it isn't because you are
a poor housekeeper that I prefer you. It's because--"

Compliments upon her, charms were platitudes to Christine, and she cut
him short. "Yes, it is. It's because I'm so detached, and don't
interfere, and let you do things your own way, and think you so wonderful
to be able to do them at all. Now if I knew how to do them, too, I should
be criticizing and suggesting all the time, and you'd have no peace. You
like me for _being a poor housekeeper_."

He smiled. "On that ground I ought to like you very much then," he
answered.

"Perhaps you do," she said cheerfully. "Anyhow I'm sure you like me
better than that other girl you were thinking of--that good housekeeper.
Who is she?"

"I like her quite a lot."

"I see--you think she'd make a good wife."