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Mrs。 Evers had put her little feather…head of a daughter very much forward； and Gordon was as easily captivated as a child by the sound of a rattle。 Blanche had an affection for him now； however； Bernard saw no reason to doubt that； and certainly she would have been a very flimsy creature indeed if she had not been touched by his inexhaustible kindness。 She had every conceivable indulgence； and if she married him for his money； at least she had got what she wanted。 She led the most agreeable life conceivable； and she ought to be in high good…humor。 It was impossible to have a prettier house； a prettier carriage； more jewels and laces for the adornment of a plump little person。 It was impossible to go to more parties； to give better dinners； to have fewer privations or annoyances。 Bernard was so much struck with all this that； advancing rapidly in the intimacy of his gracious hostess； he ventured to call her attention to her blessings。 She answered that she was perfectly aware of them； and there was no pretty speech she was not prepared to make about Gordon。
〃I know what you want to say；〃 she went on； 〃you want to say that he spoils me； and I don't see why you should hesitate。 You generally say everything you want； and you need n't be afraid of me。 He does n't spoil me； simply because I am so bad I can't be spoiled； but that 's of no consequence。 I was spoiled ages ago； every one spoiled meevery one except Mrs。 Vivian。 I was always fond of having everything I want； and I generally managed to get it。 I always had lovely clothes； mamma thought that was a kind of a duty。 If it was a duty； I don't suppose it counts as a part of the spoiling。 But I was very much indulged； and I know I have everything now。 Gordon is a perfect husband； I believe if I were to ask him for a present of his nose； he would cut it off and give it to me。 I think I will ask him for a small piece of it some day； it will rather improve him to have an inch or two less。 I don't say he 's handsome； but he 's just as good as he can be。 Some people say that if you are very fond of a person you always think them handsome； but I don't agree with that at all。 I am very fond of Gordon； and yet I am not blinded by affection； as regards his personal appearance。 He 's too light for my taste； and too red。 And because you think people handsome； it does n't follow that you are fond of them。 I used to have a friend who was awfully handsomethe handsomest man I ever saw and I was perfectly conscious of his defects。 But I 'm not conscious of Gordon's； and I don't believe he has got any。 He 's so intensely kind； it 's quite pathetic。 One would think he had done me an injury in marrying me； and that he wanted to make up for it。 If he has done me an injury I have n't discovered it yet； and I don't believe I ever shall。 I certainly shall not as long as he lets me order all the clothes I want。 I have ordered five dresses this week； and I mean to order two more。 When I told Gordon； what do you think he did？ He simply kissed me。 Well； if that 's not expressive； I don't know what he could have done。 He kisses me about seventeen times a day。 I suppose it 's very improper for a woman to tell any one how often her husband kisses her； but； as you happen to have seen him do it； I don't suppose you will be scandalized。 I know you are not easily scandalized； I am not afraid of you。 You are scandalized at my getting so many dresses？ Well； I told you I was spoiledI freely acknowledge it。 That 's why I was afraid to tell Gordon because when I was married I had such a lot of things； I was supposed to have dresses enough to last for a year。 But Gordon had n't to pay for them； so there was no harm in my letting him feel that he has a wife。 If he thinks I am extravagant； he can easily stop kissing me。 You don't think it would be easy to stop？ It 's very well； then； for those that have never begun！〃
Bernard had a good deal of conversation with Blanche； of which； so far as she was concerned； the foregoing remarks may serve as a specimen。 Gordon was away from home during much of the day； he had a chemical laboratory in which he was greatly interested； and which he took Bernard to see； it was fitted up with the latest contrivances for the pursuit of experimental science； and was the resort of needy young students； who enjoyed； at Gordon's expense； the opportunity for pushing their researches。 The place did great honor to Gordon's liberality and to his ingenuity； but Blanche； who had also paid it a visit； could never speak of it without a pretty little shudder。
〃Nothing would induce me to go there again；〃 she declared； 〃and I consider myself very fortunate to have escaped from it with my life。 It 's filled with all sorts of horrible things； that fizzle up and go off； or that make you turn some dreadful color if you look at them。 I expect to hear a great clap some day； and half an hour afterward to see Gordon brought home in several hundred small pieces； put up in a dozen little bottles。 I got a horrid little stain in the middle of my dress that one of the young menthe young savantswas so good as to drop there。 Did you see the young savants who work under Gordon's orders？ I thought they were too forlorn； there is n't one of them you would look at。 If you can believe it； there was n't one of them that looked at me； they took no more notice of me than if I had been the charwoman。 They might have shown me some attention； at least； as the wife of the proprietor。 What is it that Gordon 's calledis n't there some other name？ If you say 'proprietor；' it sounds as if he kept an hotel。 I certainly don't want to pass for the wife of an hotel…keeper。 What does he call himself？ He must have some name。 I hate telling people he 's a chemist； it sounds just as if he kept a shop。 That 's what they call the druggists in England； and I formed the habit while I was there。 It makes me feel as if he were some dreadful little man； with big green bottles in the window and 'night…bell' painted outside。 He does n't call himself anything？ Well； that 's exactly like Gordon！ I wonder he consents to have a name at all。 When I was telling some one about the young men who work under his ordersthe young savantshe said I must not say that I must not speak of their working 'under his orders。' I don't know what he would like me to say！ Under his inspiration！〃
During the hours of Gordon's absence； Bernard had frequent colloquies with his friend's wife； whose irresponsible prattle amused him； and in whom he tried to discover some faculty； some quality； which might be a positive guarantee of Gordon's future felicity。 But often； of course； Gordon was an auditor as well； I say an auditor； because it seemed to Bernard that he had grown to be less of a talker than of yore。 Doubtless； when a man finds himself united to a garrulous wife； he naturally learns to hold his tongue； but sometimes； at the close of one of Blanche's discursive monologues； on glancing at her husband just to see how he took it； and seeing him sit perfectly silent； with a fixed； inexpressive smile； Bernard said to himself that Gordon found the lesson of listening attended with some embarrassments。 Gordon； as the years went by； was gr