At Home With the Jardines

on the one thing in my make-up conspicuous by its absence. For I am luxurious to a degree, and so fond of beauty and grace that I feel with the man who said, " Give me the luxuries of life and I will do without the necessities." This explanation is due to any man, woman, or child who has ever lived in a New York apartment, and who is moved to follow the fortunes of the Jardines further. Also this conversation took place before some of the events already narrated transpired, and while we were still at the Waldorf. " Now, Aubrey," I said, " to begin at the beginning, marriage is supposed to perfect existence all around, isn't it ? " " It does," said Aubrey. " No, now, I am speaking seriously. It has fed the mental and spiritual side of us, why not begin life with the determination to make it oil the wheels of daily existence? Why not bend our energies to avoiding the pitfalls of the ordinary mortal, and let us lead a perfect life." " Very well," said the Angel. " Now in permitting housekeeping to conquer, most people become slaves to the small ills of life, which I wish to avoid." " Get to the point," said Aubrey, encouragingly, fearing, I suppose, that if he did not give the conversation a fillip, I might go on in that strain for ever, which would be wearing. " Well, the point is this. I've never known what it was to have good service in a private house, except abroad. Now even when people bring excellent servants over from London and Paris,...