‘But I shall never try any more,’ said I. ‘For I love her dearly as she is.’

‘Without a story — really?’ inquired Dora, creeping closer to me.

‘Why should I seek to change,’ said I, ‘what has been so precious to me for so long!

You never can show better than as your own natural self, my sweet Dora; and we’ll try no conceited experiments, but go back to our old way, and be happy.’

‘And be happy!’ returned Dora. ‘Yes! All day! And you won’t mind things going a tiny morsel wrong, sometimes?’

‘No, no,’ said I. ‘We must do the best we can.’