Our mutual relations have changed little, notwithstanding that
betrothals and marriages have intervened, and in spite of the fact
that Salemina has grown a year younger; a mysterious feat that she
has accomplished on each anniversary of her birth since the forming
of our alliance.

It is many months since we travelled together in Scotland, but on
entering this very room in Dublin, the other day, we proceeded to
show our several individualities as usual: I going to the window to
see the view, Francesca consulting the placard on the door for hours
of table d'hote, and Salemina walking to the grate and lifting the
ugly little paper screen to say, "There is a fire laid; how nice!"
As the matron I have been promoted to a nominal charge of the
travelling arrangements. Therefore, while the others drive or sail,
read or write, I am buried in Murray's Handbook, or immersed in
maps. When I sleep, my dreams are spotted, starred, notched, and
lined with hieroglyphics, circles, horizontal dashes, long lines,
and black dots, signifying hotels, coach and rail routes, and
tramways.

All this would have been done by Himself with the greatest ease in
the world. In the humbler walks of Irish life the head of the
house, if he is of the proper sort, is called Himself, and it is in
the shadow of this stately title that my Ulysses will appear in this
chronicle.

I am quite sure I do not believe in the inferiority of woman, but I
have a feeling that a man is a trifle superior in practical affairs.
If I am in doubt, and there is no husband, brother, or cousin near,