“You said, I wasn’t comfortable!” cried Dora.

“I said the housekeeping was not comfortable!”

“It’s exactly the same thing!” cried Dora. And she evidently thought so, for she wept most grievously.

I took another turn across the room, full of love for my pretty wife, and distracted by self-accusatory inclinations to knock my head against the door. I sat down again, and said:

“I am not blaming you, Dora. We have both a great deal to learn. I am only trying to show you, my dear, that you must⁠—you really must” (I was resolved not to give this up)⁠—“accustom yourself to look after Mary Anne. Likewise to act a little for yourself, and me.”

“I wonder, I do, at your making such ungrateful speeches,” sobbed Dora. “When you know that the other day, when you said you would like a little bit of fish, I went out myself, miles and miles, and ordered it, to surprise you.”