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〃She was as sweet as milk about it；〃 he continued； 〃said it was an
excellent idea of George's； and that she thought it would do me good。〃
〃That seems all right；〃 I said； 〃what's wrong about that？〃
〃There's nothing wrong about that；〃 he answered； 〃but that wasn't all。
She went on to talk of other things。〃
〃I understand；〃 I said。
〃There's that bathroom fad of hers；〃 he continued。
〃I've heard of it；〃 I said； 〃she has started Ethelbertha on the same
idea。〃
〃Well； I've had to agree to that being put in hand at once； I couldn't
argue any more when she was so nice about the other thing。 That will cost
me a hundred pounds； at the very least。〃
〃As much as that？〃 I asked。
〃Every penny of it；〃 said Harris； 〃the estimate alone is sixty。〃
I was sorry to hear him say this。
〃Then there's the kitchen stove；〃 continued Harris； 〃everything that has
gone wrong in the house for the last two years has been the fault of that
kitchen stove。〃
〃I know；〃 I said。 〃We have been in seven houses since we were
married； and every kitchen stove has been worse than the last。 Our
present one is not only incompetent； it is spiteful。 It knows when we are
giving a party； and goes out of its way to do its worst。〃
〃WE are going to have a new one；〃 said Harris； but he did not say it
proudly。 〃Clara thought it would be such a saving of expense； having the
two things done at the same time。 I believe；〃 said Harris； 〃if a woman
wanted a diamond tiara； she would explain that it was to save the expense
of a bonnet。〃
〃How much do you reckon the stove is going to cost you？〃 I asked。 I
felt interested in the subject。
〃I don't know；〃 answered Harris； 〃another twenty； I suppose。 Then
we talked about the piano。 Could you ever notice；〃 said Harris； 〃any
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difference between one piano and another？〃
〃Some of them seem to be a bit louder than others；〃 I answered； 〃but
one gets used to that。〃
〃Ours is all wrong about the treble；〃 said Harris。 〃By the way； what
IS the treble？〃
〃It's the shrill end of the thing；〃 I explained； 〃the part that sounds as if
you'd trod on its tail。 The brilliant selections always end up with a
flourish on it。〃
〃They want more of it；〃 said Harris； 〃our old one hasn't got enough of
it。 I'll have to put it in the nursery； and get a new one for the drawing…
room。〃
〃Anything else？〃 I asked。
〃No；〃 said Harris； 〃she didn't seem able to think of anything else。〃
〃You'll find when you get home；〃 I said； 〃she has thought of one other
thing。〃
〃What's that？〃 said Harris。
〃A house at Folkestone for the season。〃
〃What should she want a house at Folkestone for？〃 said Harris。
〃To live in；〃 I suggested； 〃during the summer months。〃
〃She's going to her people in Wales；〃 said Harris； 〃for the holidays；
with the children； we've had an invitation。〃
〃Possibly；〃 I said； 〃she'll go to Wales before she goes to Folkestone； or
maybe she'll take Wales on her way home； but she'll want a house at
Folkestone for the season； notwithstanding。 I may be mistakenI hope
for your sake that I ambut I feel a presentiment that I'm not。〃
〃This trip；〃 said Harris； 〃is going to be expensive。〃
〃It was an idiotic suggestion；〃 I said； 〃from the beginning。〃
〃It was foolish of us to listen to him；〃 said Harris； 〃he'll get us into real
trouble one of these days。〃
〃He always was a muddler；〃 I agreed。
〃So headstrong；〃 added Harris。
We heard his voice at that moment in the hall； asking for letters。
〃Better not say anything to him；〃 I suggested； 〃it's too late to go back
now。〃
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〃There would be no advantage in doing so；〃 replied Harris。 〃I should
have to get that bathroom and piano in any case now。〃
He came in looking very cheerful。
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃is it all right？ Have you managed it？〃
There was that about his tone I did not altogether like； I noticed Harris
resented it also。
〃Managed what？〃 I said。
〃Why； to get off；〃 said George。
I felt the time was come to explain things to George。
〃In married life；〃 I said； 〃the man proposes； the woman submits。 It is
her duty； all religion teaches it。〃
George folded his hands and fixed his eyes on the ceiling。
〃We may chaff and joke a little about these things；〃 I continued； 〃but
when it comes to practice； that is what always happens。 We have
mentioned to our wives that we are going。 Naturally； they are grieved；
they would prefer to come with us； failing that； they would have us remain
with them。 But we have explained to them our wishes on the subject；
andthere's an end of the matter。〃
George said； 〃Forgive me； I did not understand。 I am only a bachelor。
People tell me this； that； and the other； and I listen。〃
I said； 〃That is where you do wrong。 When you want information
come to Harris or myself； we will tell you the truth about these questions。〃
George thanked us； and we proceeded with the business in hand。
〃When shall we start？〃 said George。
〃So far as I am concerned；〃 replied Harris； 〃the sooner the better。〃
His idea； I fancy； was to get away before Mrs。 H。 thought of other
things。 We fixed the following Wednesday。
〃What about route？〃 said Harris。
〃I have an idea；〃 said George。 〃I take it you fellows are naturally
anxious to improve your minds？〃
I said； 〃We don't want to become monstrosities。 To a reasonable
degree； yes； if it can be done without much expense and with little
personal trouble。〃
〃It can；〃 said George。 〃We know Holland and the Rhine。 Very well；
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my suggestion is that we take the boat to Hamburg； see Berlin and
Dresden； and work our way to the Schwarzwald； through Nuremberg and
Stuttgart。〃
〃There are some pretty bits in Mesopotamia； so I've been told；〃
murmured Harris。
George said Mesopotamia was too much out o