166 APES AND MONKEYS 



I was her master and her friend. She had no gratitude in 

 her nature, but she had sense enough to see that all her 

 food and comfort were due to me, and as a matter of pol- 

 icy she became submissive ; but she was never tractable. 

 She was doubtless a plebeian among her own race and was 

 not capable of being brought up to a high standard of cul- 

 ture. She could not be controlled by kindness alone, for 

 she was by nature sordid and perverse. I was never cruel 

 or severe in dealing with her, but it was necessary to be 

 strict and firm. Her poor health, however, often caused 

 me to indulge her in whims that otherwise would have 

 brought her under a more rigid discipline. The patient 

 conduct of Aaron appeared to be tempered by the same 

 consideration. 



