or some one of that sort.

"But I am quite happy," I began, as soon as I could put
in a word.

"Ah, a good little wife, making the best of it,"
and the female potentate patted my hand, but continued gloomily
to shake her head.

"You cannot possibly be happy in the winter entirely alone,"
asserted another lady, the wife of a high military authority and not
accustomed to be contradicted.

"But I am."

"But how can you possibly be at your age? No, it is not possible."

"But I _am_."

"Your husband ought to bring you to town in the winter."

"But I don't want to be brought to town."

"And not let you waste your best years buried."
"But I like being buried."

"Such solitude is not right."

"But I'm not solitary."