INTRODUCTION 



acquaintance that his marriage did not turn out 

 happily. Probably there were faults on both 

 sides — in what quarrel can it be said that there 

 are not ? At all events one seems to recognise 

 some consciousness of this and unavailingr regret 

 in such passages as the following, spoken by 

 " Uncle John " to Algernon Lealey, who was 

 about to marry : — 



" There is but one bit of advice I can give. Don't start with too 

 exalted an idea of your goddess. She must come down from her 

 pedestal sometimes. . . . When she does not agree with you, don't 

 be provoked with her because she is your wife, but listen to her 

 courteously, though she is talking nonsense, as you would to any 

 other lady. . . . Above all, never attempt to reason with her as 

 you would with a man." 



Passages of similar significance may be found 

 in all the novels, but perhaps nowhere do these 

 feelings receive such clear expression as in the 

 remarkable budget of essays entitled Bones 

 and I: — 



" If Coelebs (in search of a wife) expects to find a perfection 

 really exist which he thinks he has discovered while dazzled by the 

 glamour surrounding a man in love, he deserves to be disappointed, 

 and he generally is. . . . What is it we expect to find ? In this 

 matter of marriage, more than in any other, our anticipations are 

 so exorbitant that we cannot be surprised if our come-down is dis- 

 heartening in proportion. 



' Where is the maiden of mortal strain, 

 That may match with the Baron of Triermain? 

 She must be lovely, constant and kind. 

 Holy and pure, and humble of mind,' etc. 



XV 



