126 IN PAIRING TIME 



IN PAIRING TIME. 



The merely natural issue in human courtship is 

 complicated with others less easy of adjustment ; so 

 that, however suddenly it may be entered upon, it is 

 generally recognised as being fraught with more or 

 less serious consequences, and is allowed to mature 

 with some deliberation. To bind, and be bound, for 

 the term of one's natural life, is felt to be no trivial 

 undertaking in the present conditions of human 

 society. 



Therefore, whenever rivalry occurs, it has as a 

 rule ample time to dull its edge ere the object of 

 dispute passes irrevocably to one or other of the 

 claimants. 



Conceive, however, a state of society wherein each 

 member should be called upon about the time of the 

 vernal equinox suddenly to secure a partner for the 

 impending season. The situation might be imagined 

 as becoming more embarassing through the arrival 

 upon these shores of crowds of interesting migrants 

 of our own species American, Australian, African 

 cousins, all thronging to the hymeneal fair. House- 

 room and movables being found ludicrously inadequate 

 to the unexpected demand, their possessors, not 

 wishing to be left high and dry in the civic ebb, 

 abandon them, and join the houseless, unchattled 

 host that betakes itself to the woods, the hedgesides, 



