There was a shade of surprise in her voice that lingered huskily in her throat.
"That is my doctrine," was Emerson's firmly spoken answer.
Irene sighed heavily.

Both were silent for some moments.

At length Irene said, lifting her hands and bringing them down with an action of despair, "In bonds! in bonds!" "No, no!" Her husband replied quickly and earnestly.

"Not in bonds, but in true freedom, if you will--the freedom of reciprocal action." "Like bat and ball," she answered, with bitterness in her tones.
"No, like heart and lungs," he returned, calmly.

"Irene! dear wife! Why misunderstand me?
I have no wish to rule, and you know I have never sought to place you in bonds.