Page:Impressions of Theophrastus Such - Eliot - 1879.djvu/72

 stand her husband's ideas, or at least to believe that they are of more value than she can understand&mdash;if she is to join anybody who happens to be against him, and suppose he is a fool because others contradict him&mdash;there is an end of our happiness. That is all I have to say."

"Oh no, Proteus, dear. I do believe what you say is right That is my only guide. I am sure I never have any opinions in any other way: I mean about subjects. Of course there are many little things that would tease you, that you like me to judge of for myself. I know I said once that I did not want you to sing 'Oh ruddier than the cherry,' because it was not in your voice. But I cannot remember ever differing from you about subjects. I never in my life thought any one cleverer than you."

Julia Merman was really a "nice little woman," not one of the stately Dians sometimes spoken of in those terms. Her black silhouette had a very infantine aspect, but she had discernment and wisdom enough to act on the strong hint of that memorable conversation, never again giving her husband the slightest ground for suspecting that she thought treasonably of