sort of thing. To my way of thinking, there is nothing on earth so
pleasant as a pleasant wife; but then, what is there so damnable as
one that is unpleasant?"

"Are you a married man?" he inquired. All his questions were put in
a low tone of voice which seemed to give to them an air of special
interest, and made one almost feel that they were asked with some
special view to one's individual welfare. Now the fact is, that I
am a married man with a family; but I am not much given to talk to
strangers about my domestic concerns, and, therefore, though I had
no particular object in view, I denied my obligations in this
respect. "No," said I; "I have not come to that promotion yet. I
am too frequently on the move to write myself down as
Paterfamilias."

"Then you know nothing about that pleasantness of which you spoke
just now?"

"Nor of the unpleasantness, thank God; my personal experiences are
all to come,--as also are yours, I presume?"

It was possible that he had hampered himself with some woman, and
that she was to meet him at Alexandria. Poor fellow! thought I.
But his unhappiness was not of that kind. "No," said he; "I am not
married; I am all alone in the world."

"Then I certainly would not allow myself to be troubled by
unpleasant acquaintances."

It was now four hours since we had left Jerusalem, and we had