"That's exactly what Personages don't do: they live in state and under constant consideration; they haven't latch-keys, but drums and trumpets announce them; and when they go out in growlers it makes a greater noise still.

It's you, caro mio," she said, "who, so far as that goes, are the Personage." "Ah," he in turn protested, "don't put it all on me! What, at any rate, when you get home," he added, "shall you say that you've been doing ?" "I shall say, beautifully, that I've been here." "All day ?" "Yes--all day.

Keeping you company in your solitude.

How can we understand anything," she went on, "without really seeing that this is what they must like to think I do for you ?--just as, quite as comfortably, you do it for me.

The thing is for us to learn to take them as they are." He considered this a while, in his restless way, but with his eyes not turning from her; after which, rather disconnectedly, though very vehemently, he brought out: "How can I not feel more than anything else how they adore together my boy ?" And then, further, as if, slightly disconcerted, she had nothing to meet this and he quickly perceived the effect: "They would have done the same for one of yours." "Ah, if I could have had one--! I hoped and I believed," said Charlotte, "that that would happen.