Man and Maid

When we were settled in two comfortable arm chairs before the fire, he

held forth as usual. He had arranged the affairs of Bobby Bulteel only

in the nick of time. "I have all the receipts, Nicholas, to hand to

you," he said.

"The wretched creature was overcome with gratitude. We had a long chat,

and he plans to clear out and start life afresh in the Argentine as soon

as War is over and he can be released from his commission. He is bound

to end in hell with his temperament, but it won't matter so long as poor

Lady Hilda is not dragged down too. He agreed to leave the family here

unmolested now, and not return for years to them, when he does retire

from the army."

Then I told my old friend that I intended to marry the daughter on the

morrow. He was very surprised.

"I could not imagine what your interest could be, Nicholas, unless it

had something to do with a woman, but where did you ever meet the girl,

my dear boy?"

I explained.

"You might come to the wedding, George," I said.

He promised he would, then he smoked for a minute or two in silence.

"Pretty terrible thing, marriage," and he puffed blue rings with perfect

precision. "I have never been able to face it. What has made you slip

into the mesh?"

"Because I think I have found someone who will be a good companion and

not bore me."

"You are not in love then? It is a sensible arrangement, and in that way

you have a chance of happiness; also the girl has had a hard life, and

may be grateful for comfort and kindness."

"What do you suppose men really want, George?"

"The continuous stimulation of the hunting instinct, of course. It is

satiety which kills everything, but what a small percentage of women

know how to keep it alive, on the mental side!"

I waited for him to go on.

"You see, dear boy, love which is only the camouflaged aspect of the

creative instinct, cannot really hold, but a clever woman acts as a spur

to the mind, keeps it hunting in the abstract, as well as gratifying,

not too generously, the physical desires. Unfortunately it has never

been my good fortune to encounter such a being, so I have never been

able to remain faithful. You are very much in luck if Bobby's girl shows

intelligence. She ought to be a remarkable creature because she was born

at the white heat of passion on both parents' side, and self-sacrifice

and devotion added on the mother's."