CHAPTER III.
"_Every one has his day, from which he dates._" OLD PROVERB You see, Surrey, the school is something extra, and the performances, and it will please Clara no end; so I thought I'd run over, and inveigled you into going along for fear it should be stupid, and I would need some recreation." "Which I am to afford ?" "Verily." "As clown or grindstone ?--to make laugh, or sharpen your wits upon ?" "Far be it from me to dictate.

Whichever suits our character best.

On the whole, I think the last would be the most appropriate; the first I can swear wouldn't!" "_Pourquoi_ ?" "O, a woman's reason,--because!" "Because why?
Am I cross ?" "Not exactly." "Rough ?" "As usual,--like a May breeze." "Cynical ?" "As Epicurus." "Irritable ?" "'A countenance [and manner] more in sorrow than in anger.' Something's wrong with you; who is she ?" "She!" "Ay,--she.

That was a wise Eastern king who put at the bottom of every trouble and mischief a woman." "Fine estimate." "Correct one.

Evidently he had studied the genus thoroughly, and had a poor opinion of it." "No wonder." "Amazing! _you_ say 'no wonder'! Astounding words! speak them again." "No wonder,--seeing that he had a mother, and that she had such a son.
He must needs have been a bad fellow or a fool to have originated so base a philosophy, and how then could he respect the source of such a stream as himself ?" "Sir Launcelot,--squire of dames!" "Not Sir Launcelot, but squire of dames, I hope." "There you go again! Now I shall query once more, who is she ?" "No woman." "No ?" "No, though by your smiling you would seem to say so!" "Nay, I believe you, and am vastly relieved in the believing.