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should marry。 I have altogether got over that； and I don't know how I ever came to talk such nonsense。 I am fascinated now； and I assure you I like it！ The best of it is that I find it does n't in the least prevent my estimating Blanche。 I judge her very fairlyI see just what she is。 She 's simple that 's what I want； she 's tenderthat 's what I long for。 You will remember how pretty she is； I need n't remind you of that。 She was much younger then； and she has greatly developed and improved in these two or three years。 But she will always be young and innocentI don't want her to improve too much。 She came back to America with her mother the winter after we met her at Baden； but I never saw her again till three months ago。 Then I saw her with new eyes； and I wondered I could have been so blind。 But I was n't ready for her till then； and what makes me so happy now is to know that I have come to my present way of feeling by experience。 That gives me confidence you see I am a reasoner still。 But I am under the charm； for all my reason。 We are to be married in a month try and come back to the wedding。 Blanche sends you a message； which I will give you verbatim。 'Tell him I am not such a silly little chatterbox as I used to be at Baden。 I am a great deal wiser； I am almost as clever as Angela Vivian。' She has an idea you thought Miss Vivian very cleverbut it is not true that she is equally so。 I am very happy； come home and see。〃
Bernard went home； but he was not able to reach the United States in time for Gordon's wedding； which took place at midsummer。 Bernard； arriving late in the autumn； found his friend a married man of some months' standing； and was able to judge； according to his invitation； whether he appeared happy。 The first effect of the letter I have just quoted had been an immense surprise； the second had been a series of reflections which were quite the negative of surprise； and these operations of Bernard's mind had finally merged themselves in a simple sentiment of jollity。 He was delighted that Gordon should be married； he felt jovial about it； he was almost indifferent to the question of whom he had chosen。 Certainly； at first； the choice of Blanche Evers seemed highly incongruous； it was difficult to imagine a young woman less shaped to minister to Gordon's strenuous needs than the light…hearted and empty…headed little flirt whose inconsequent prattle had remained for Bernard one of the least importunate memories of a charming time。 Blanche Evers was a pretty little goosethe prettiest of little geese； perhaps； and doubtless the most amiable； but she was not a companion for a peculiarly serious man； who would like his wife to share his view of human responsibilities。 What a singular selectionwhat a queer infatuation！ Bernard had no sooner committed himself to this line of criticism than he stopped short； with the sudden consciousness of error carried almost to the point of naivetae。 He exclaimed that Blanche Evers was exactly the sort of girl that men of Gordon Wright's stamp always ended by falling in love with； and that poor Gordon knew very much better what he was about in this case than he had done in trying to solve the deep problem of a comfortable life with Angela Vivian。 This was what your strong； solid； sensible fellows always came to； they paid； in this particular； a larger tribute to pure fancy than the people who were supposed habitually to cultivate that muse。 Blanche Evers was what the French call an article of fantasy； and Gordon had taken a pleasure in finding her deliciously useless。 He cultivated utility in other ways； and it pleased and flattered him to feel that he could afford； morally speaking； to have a kittenish wife。 He had within himself a fund of common sense to draw upon； so that to espouse a paragon of wisdom would be but to carry water to the fountain。 He could easily make up for the deficiencies of a wife who was a little silly； and if she charmed and amused him； he could treat himself to the luxury of these sensations for themselves。 He was not in the least afraid of being ruined by it； and if Blanche's birdlike chatter and turns of the head had made a fool of him； he knew it perfectly well； and simply took his stand upon his rights。 Every man has a right to a little flower…bed； and life is not all mere kitchen…gardening。 Bernard rapidly extemporized this rough explanation of the surprise his friend had offered him； and he found it all…sufficient for his immediate needs。 He wrote Blanche a charming note； to which she replied with a great deal of spirit and grace。 Her little letter was very prettily turned； and Bernard； reading it over two or three times； said to himself that； to do her justice； she might very well have polished her intellect a trifle during these two or three years。 As she was older； she could hardly help being wiser。 It even occurred to Bernard that she might have profited by the sort of experience that is known as the discipline of suffering。 What had become of Captain Lovelock and that tender passion which was apparently none the less genuine for having been expressed in the slang of a humorous period？ Had they been permanently separated by judicious guardians； and had she been obliged to obliterate his image from her lightly…beating little heart？ Bernard had felt sure at Baden that； beneath her contemptuous airs and that impertinent consciousness of the difficulties of conquest by which a pretty American girl attests her allegiance to a civilization in which young women occupy the highest placehe had felt sure that Blanche had a high appreciation of her handsome Englishman； and that if Lovelock should continue to relish her charms； he might count upon the advantages of reciprocity。 But it occurred to Bernard that Captain Lovelock had perhaps been faithless； that； at least； the discourtesy of chance and the inhumanity of an elder brother might have kept him an eternal prisoner at the Hotel de Hollande （where； for all Bernard knew to the contrary； he had been obliged to work out his destiny in the arduous character of a polyglot waiter）； so that the poor young girl； casting backward glances along the path of Mrs。 Vivian's retreat； and failing to detect the onward rush of a rescuing cavalier； had perforce believed herself forsaken； and had been obliged to summon philosophy to her aid。 It was very possible that her philosophic studies had taught her the art of reflection； and that； as she would have said herself； she was tremendously toned down。 Once； at Baden； when Gordon Wright happened to take upon himself to remark that little Miss Evers was bored by her English gallant； Bernard had ventured to observe； in petto； that Gordon knew nothing about it。 But all this was of no consequence now； and Bernard steered further and further away from the liability to detect fallacies in his friend。 Gordon had engaged himself to marry； and our critical hero had not a grain of fault to find with this resolution。 It was a capital thing； it was just what he wanted； it would do him a world of good。 Bernard rejoiced with him sincerely； and regretted extremely that a series of solemn engagements to pay visits in England should prevent his being present at the nupt