No More Learning

What's that
big sigh for, Minnie?

Mrs. G. Oh, nothing--and you've kept all this a secret from me! Why?

Capt. G. Not a secret, exactly, dear. I didn't say anything about it to
you because I didn't think it would amuse you.

Mrs. G. And am I only made to be amused?

Capt. G. No, of course.
I merely mean that it couldn't interest you.

Mrs. G. It's your work and--and if you'd let me, I'd count all these
things up. If they are too heavy, you know by how much they are too
heavy, and you must have a list of things made out to your scale of
lightness, and--

Capt. G. I have got both scales somewhere in my head; but it's hard to
tell how light you can make a head-stall, for instance, until you've
actually had a model made.

Mrs. G. But if you read out the list, I could copy it down, and pin it
up there just above your table. Wouldn't that do?

Capt. G. It would be awf'ly nice, dear, but it would be giving you
trouble for nothing. I can't work that way. I go by rule of thumb.