1838-1839] A Docile Husband 25 



write) has just put me half way between the two plans. 

 This will give you hopes of my being a very docile husband, 

 thus to have become twice an absolute convert to your 

 scheme. I settled the matter by telling the housemaid to 

 have fires lighted on Tuesday, and if we did not come then 

 to have them Wednesday, so that you may decide precisely 

 as you please at any moment you please. I went as near 

 a falsehood as any honest man could do, by pretending to 

 deliberate and saying in a very hesitating voice, " You need 

 not have a fire on Monday," by which anyone would sup- 

 pose we were to be married on that morning. Whether I 

 took them in I do not know. . . . 



