all the members of his family, the ladies all closely veiled. Looking among them instinctively for Eveena, I observed that she had exchanged her usual light veil fo

here and there. Most of these he filled up, and then, leading forward his daughter, Esmo signed to me also to approach the table. The others stood just behind us, and the official then placed the document in Eveena's hand. She looked through it and re

ain her, clothing her to her satisfaction, at a cost not exceeding five staltau by the year. He will provide for any child or children she may bear while living with him, or within twice twelve dozen days thereafter. And if at any time he shall dismiss her or permit her to leave him, or if she shall desire to leave

ch our names had actually been written, showed that, by some process I hardly understand, the signature had been executed and the agreement filled up in triplicate, the officer preserving one copy, the others being given to the bride and bridegroom respectively. The ladies then retired, Esmo, his son, and the official remaining, when two ambau brought in a tray of refreshments. The official tasted each article offered to him, evidently more as a matter of form than of pleasure. I took this opportunity to ask some questions regarding the Martial cuisine, and learnt that all but the very simplest cookery is performed by professional confectioners, who supply twice a day the households in their vicinity; unmarried men taking their meals at the shop. The preparation of fruit, roasted grain, beverages consisting of juices mixed with a

your sanction; but you must be aware, in the first place, that I have no means here of perform

as immediately demanded, produced not a littl

would attract crowded audiences. You could get a considerable sum for the exclusive right to take your likeness; and, if you chose to explain it, you might fix your own price on the novel motive power you have introduced. But there is another point in regard to the contract which you have overlooked, but which I was bound to bear in mind. What you have promised is, I believe, what Eveena

that such charges do not interfere with the free sale of land. They are registered in the proper office, and the State trustee collects them from

ality would permit. This is quite right and practically inevitable; but it hardly agrees with the theory whic

?" he i

wo years belongs to the wife alone. The husband

iage is greatly lessened. Her capacity of maintaining herself, in the days when women did work, was found practically to be even smaller than before marriage. You may say that this really amounts to a recognition by custom of the natural inequality denied

where neither is tied to the children, that each can

luntary, men of course insist on excluding legal interference in household quarrels; and before the prohibitive clause was generally adopted, legal interposition did more harm than good. As you will find, equality before the law gives absolute effect to

ross cruelty. The owner cannot make life a burden to them without imperilling his own. To reduce the question

e excepted attempts to murder, as the women have excepted serious bodil

"are there many

and visits both with its supreme penalty. Consequently, a wife detected in such an attempt is at her husband's mercy; and if he consent to spare her life, she must submit to

frequent opportunity of repeating her attempt at revenge; and to live i

o poisonous plants are grown near our houses; and as wives never go out alone, they have little chance of getting hold of any fatal

the legal definition of

y daughters might have to endure almost any maltreatment from their husbands, so long as these have but the sense not to employ weapons that leave almost ineffaceable marks. This is one main reason why we so anxiously avoid giving them save to those who are bound by th

position than that of those women in our world who are, not on

and opposite; and this familiar phrase gives meaning to the saw, Pelmavè dakal dakè, 'She is equal, the thing struck to the hammer,' meaning that woman's equality to man is no more effective than the

oes tha

n?' Still puzzled? 'Between the harshness of school and the misery of marriage, the illusions of the bride.' Again, Zefoo zevl

say that that is

de than men. That is perhaps the ugliest proverb of its

woman's tears, to wo

an's hand-but when wa

to the door of a chamber next to that I had hitherto occupied. Pausing here himself, he motioned me to go on, and the door parting, I found myself in a room I had not before entered, about the same

nd the termination of their often prolonged and wearisome labours. I was then left alone with my bride, who remained half-seated, half-crouching on the cushions in a corner of the room. I could not help feeling keenly how much a marriage so unceremonious and with so little previous acquaintance, or rather so great a reserve and distance in our former intercourse, intensified the awkwardness many a man on Earth feels when first left alone with the partner of his

red, rising, "yo

hat must be the state of Martial brides in general, when the signature of the contract immediately places them at the disposal of an utter stranger, it was beyond the power of my imagination to conceive, if their feelings were at all to be measured by Eveena's under conditions sufficiently trying, but certainly far better than theirs. Nothing was so likely to quiet he

are flowers, or the creation of new ones, is almost the only employment in which we can find exercise for such intelligence as we possess. I had never seen before the flower that grew on that shelf. I believe, indeed, that it only grows on a few of our

shape or colour; and, though I am not learned in bot

ch I have produced in two years another, saucer-shaped, pink, and of thrice the size, almost exactly realising an imaginary flower, drawn by my sister-in-law to represent one of which she had dreamed. We can often produce the very shape, size,

rations, by picking and choosing those that vary in the right direction, to accomplish anything of the kind; and

to understand th

ectric frames. But if you will allow me, I will show you to-morrow what I have done in my own flower-bed, and you will have opport

have had the flowers for which you risked so much: and if I remain here t

he Astronaut?" she asked, with a

nder your father's seal and your stringent laws of property. But now, if time

you not to venture there again. I should be utterly miserable w

ve my prize better than I have yet done. But you seem to have some especial spite against the unlucky

ch distressed; "but the vessel that

hope it may. At all events, it shall not d

rose irrepressibly to her lips. A few persuasive words, however, encouraged her, and she found her voice, t

urs. I have found at least that they make you much more indulgent and tender to women than ou

hesitation and your apologies might make me fear that you are about to ask somethi

a much graver import than I at first supposed. Perhaps to treat the matter light

appeal against me to the law, which cannot yet determine whether I am a reality or a fiction? Or have I proved my arm a little too substantial? Must the giant promise not to exercise the masculine prerogative of physical force safely concede

se? I dare say I shall be frightened to tears when you are angry; but I shall never wish you to retain your anger rather than vent it and forgive. The proverb says, 'Who punishes pardons; who hates awaits.' No, pray do not play with me; I am so m

y be broken at pleasure, I should not have thought that, on the very brida

erhaps too much absorbed by her own purp

sire to give utterance to her wish-"I want ... will you say that-if by that time you do not think that I have been too faulty, too undeserving

y blank surprise for displeasure; her words brought over my mind a rush of that horr

ch love as would prompt the wish, I trust you will never dream of cutting short your life

and she looked up more sh

d, when he means to remind us that death is only a departure to another; though that was, not so long ago, the on

u would not go with me, I might, rather than give you up, have given up the whole purpose of my enterprise, and have left my friends, and the w

ng displeasure, you will take me with you? Most men do not think much of promises, especially of promi

tainly had not anticipated. "I give you the word of one who has never lied, that if, when the time comes, you wish to go

e is to inflict certainly, and at once, the worst that can possibly befall me; to take me gives me the hope of living

the most prevalent characteristic, a wife so true to the best and deepest meaning of wedlock. Still less could I have hoped to find such a wife in one who had scarcely spoken to me twenty-four hours before our marriage. If my unexampled adventure had had no other reward-if I

nce as if constantly expecting a blow; and this cowering was so evident in my bride's demeanour, that, after trying for a couple of hours to coax her into confidence and unreserved feminine fluency, I began to feel almost impatient. It was fortunate that, just as my tone involuntarily betrayed to her quick and watchful ear some shade of annoyance, just as I caught a furtive upward glance that seemed to ask what error she had committed and how it might be repaired, a scratching on the door startled her. She did not, however, venture to disengage herself from the hand which now held her own, but only moved half-imperceptibly aside with a slight questioning look and gesture, as if tacitly asking to be released. As I still held her fast, she was silent, till the unnoticed scratching had been two or three times repeated, and then half-whispered, "Shall I tell them to come in?" When I released her, there appeared to my surprise at her call, no human intruder, but one of the ambau, bearing on a tray a goblet, which, as he placed it on a table beside us, I perceived to contain a liquid rather different from any yet offered me. The presence of these mute servants is generally no more heeded than that of our cats and dogs; but I now learnt that Martial ideas of delicacy forbid them, even as human servants would be forbidden, to intrude unannounced on conjugal

abruptly. The question may have startled

pt that the doubt evidently surprised her. "Ought I not to be so? But what made you a

mind me not of the women of my own Earth, but of petted children suddenly transferred to a harsh school. You speak and look

e been. "But please don't speak as if I should fear anything so much as being scolded by y

mostly woman's tongue that breaks the heart,

r the other day that Arga (the fretful chil

ences; and a man must be drunk or utterly brutal before he could

l glance. "'A petted bride makes an unhappy wife.' Surely it is no t

r flowers with a hammer. To apply your proverbs to yourself would be to realise this proverb of ours. Can you not let me pet and spoil my little flower-bird at

id she, glancing up for one moment through her drooping lashes with a