You
care about people's minds more than about themselves, perhaps? But
I'm on their level, and they seem to me to be telling something
about themselves all the time. Of course it must be GHASTLY for
you, and we will try to arrange things better."
"No, dearest, you won't, and you mustn't," said Howard. "That's the
best of marriage, that one does get a glimpse into different
things. You are perfectly and entirely right. It simply means that
I can't talk their language, and I will learn it. I am a prig; your
husband is a prig--but he will try to do better. It isn't a duty,
and it isn't a pleasure, and it isn't a question of minds at all.
It is just living life on ordinary terms. I won't have anything
different at all. I'm ashamed of myself for my moans. When I have
anything in the way of work to do, it may be different. But now I
see what I have to do. I am suffering from the stupidity of so-
called clever people; and you mustn't mind it. Only don't, for
Heaven's sake, try to contrive, or to spare me things. That is how
the ugly paterfamilias is made. You mustn't spoil me or manage me;
if I ever suspect you of doing that, I'll just go back to Cambridge
alone. I hate even to have made you look at me as you did just now--
you must forgive me that and many other things; and now you must
promise just this, that if I am snappish you won't give way; you
must not become a slipper-warmer."
"Yes, yes, I promise," said Maud, laughing; "here's my hand on it!
You shall be diligently henpecked.
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