Even she who is most perfectly mated, and is intellectually convinced that the difference of sex is no barrier to his complete knowledge of her, loves to cherish some little secret bit of her nature, to which _he_, on account of his masculinity, will be eternally blind.

Of course there are dull men who could not understand a tabbycat or a professional cricketer, let alone an expert autothaumaturgist--a self-mystery-maker--like a woman.

But an intelligent and painstaking man should find no difficulty in appreciating what, after all, is merely a point of view; for what women see from that point of view they are as indiscreet in revealing as a two-year-old babe.

I have confessed before that I do not understand Judith--that is to say the whole welter of contradictions in which her ego consists--but that is solely because I have not taken the trouble to subject her to special microscopic study.

Such a scientific analysis would, I think, be an immodest discourtesy towards any lady of my acquaintance, especially towards one for whom I bear considerable affection.