I found her a pretty and interesting girl, and it is not unlikely that she may make a good wife for such a man as Mr.Grail--himself, clearly, quite enough of an idealist to dispense with the more solid housewifely virtues in his life-mate.

But I add this, Walter: It certainly would not be advisable to fill her head too suddenly with a kind of thought to which she has hitherto been a stranger.

If I had influence with Mr.Grail, I should hint to him that he is going to marry a very young wife, and that, under the circumstances, the balance of character to be found in sober domestic occupation will, for some time, be what she most needs to aim at.

You see, I am _not_ an idealist, and I think commonplace domestic happiness of more account than aspirations which might not improbably endanger it.

Forgive me for these remarks, which you will say have a slight odour of the kitchen, or, at best, of the store-room.