"It is their duty."
"Dear friend, if you begin already to remind us of our duty, I fear
your cause is wholly lost. Come, let us sit here awhile upon this
grass plot and talk together."
"Yes, you will be seated, but I do not see exactly why we should
talk together. I would much rather close your laughing, rosy lips
with kisses." He drew her to his side, and was about to carry out
this purpose, but Louise waved him off.
"If you do not sit perfectly quiet by my side," said she, "I will
unfold the gay wings, of which you have just spoken, and fly far
away!"
"Well, then, I will sit quietly; but may I not be permitted to ask
my shy prudish mistress why I must do so?"
"Why? Well, because I wish to give my savage pet his first lecture
after his return. The lecture begins thus: When a man remains absent
from his wife seven years, he has no right to return as a calm,
confident, self-assured husband, with his portion of home-baked
tenderness; he should come timidly, as a tender, attentive,
enamoured cavalier, who woos his mistress and draws near to her
humbly, tremblingly, and submissively--not looking upon her as his
wife, but as the fair lady whose love he may hope to win.
Pages:
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
1001
1002
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015