"How do you mean, my dear?"

"Because you will say things more simply if you have them by you. Besides,
you always say such things to children as delight grown people, though they
could never get them out of you."

It was a wife's speech, reader. Forgive me for writing it.

"Well," I said, "I don't mind them coming in, but I don't promise to say
anything directly to them. And you must let them go away the moment they
wish it."

"Certainly," answered my wife; and so the matter was arranged.






CHAPTER IV.

A SUNDAY EVENING.





When I went in to see Constance the next Sunday morning before going to
church, I knew by her face that she was expecting the evening. I took care