"I don't know that I specially doubt it," she replied.
"I suppose any man has in him the makings of what is called
a good husband--if the conditions are sufficiently propitious."
"Well then--what's the matter with the conditions?"
he demanded, jocosely.
Miss Madden shrugged her shoulders slightly. Thorpe noted
the somewhat luxuriant curves of these splendid shoulders,
and the creamy whiteness of the skin, upon which,
round the full throat, a chain of diamonds lay as upon
satin--and recalled that he had not seen her before in
what he phrased to himself as so much low-necked dress.
The deep fire-gleam in her broad plaits of hair gave a
wonderful brilliancy to this colouring of brow and throat
and bosom. He marvelled at himself for discovering only
now that she also was beautiful--and then thrilled with
pride at the thought that henceforth his life might be
passed altogether among beautiful women, radiant in gems
and costly fabrics, who would smile upon him at his command.
"Oh, I have no wish to be a kill-joy," she protested.
"I'm sure I hope all manner of good results from the--
the experiment."
"I suppose that's what it comes to," he said, meditatively.
"It's all an experiment. Every marriage in the world
must be that--neither more nor less."
"With all the experience of the ages against its coming
out right.
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