"I think," he continued, looking at her admiringly,
"that women ought to be fat."

"Tell you the truth," said she eagerly, "I think that
myself. I never met a thin woman but she was a sour
one, and I never met a fat man but he was a fool. Fat
women and thin men; it's nature," said she.

"It is," said he, and he leaned forward and kissed her
eye.

"Oh, you villain!" said the woman, putting out her
hands against him.

The Philosopher drew back abashed.
"Forgive me," he began, "if I have alarmed your
virtue--"

"It's the married man's word," said she, rising hastily:
"now I know you; but there's a lot of the bachelor in you
all the same, God help you! I'm going home." And,
so saying, she dipped her vessel in the well and turned
away.

"Maybe," said the Philosopher, "I ought to wait un-
til your husband comes home and ask his forgiveness for
the wrong I've done him."

The woman turned round on him and each of her eyes