but I'm beginning to think it — that

behind soft-hearted, generous men

there are usually restraining wives

quietly making things go right.

At least it seems so here among the ones

I've met, men still open to astonishments

and retailing them; women sardonic,

keeping things in check. From what

I've heard, Mrs M, it sounds the case

with you: Charles likely to be prodigal

and you earnest of success, even of success

for him. Where would Tasmania be

in the protection of mutton birds, black swans,

without your parlour insistences? the first

cable across Bass Straits? All this without

mention of your talents with the brush and pen.