 Dora was very childish, and I would have
infinitely preferred to humour her, I tried to be grave - and disconcerted her,
and myself too. I talked to her on the subjects which occupied my thoughts; and
I read Shakespeare to her - and fatigued her to the last degree. I accustomed
myself to giving her, as it were quite casually, little scraps of useful
information, or sound opinion - and she started from them when I let them off,
as if they had been crackers. No matter how incidentally or naturally I
endeavoured to form my little wife's mind, I could not help seeing that she
always had an instinctive perception of what I was about, and became a prey to
the keenest apprehensions. In particular, it was clear to me, that she thought
Shakespeare a terrible fellow. The formation went on very slowly.
    I pressed Traddles into the service without his knowledge; and whenever he
came to see us, exploded my mines upon him for the edification of Dora at second
hand. The amount of practical wisdom I bestowed upon Traddles in this manner was
immense, and of the best quality; but it had no other effect upon Dora than to
depress her spirits, and make her always nervous with the dread that it would be
her turn next. I found myself in the condition of a schoolmaster, a trap, a
pitfall; of always playing spider to Dora's fly, and always pouncing out of my
hole to her infinite disturbance.
    Still, looking forward through this intermediate stage, to the time when
there should be a perfect sympathy between Dora and me, and when I should have
formed her mind to my entire satisfaction, I persevered, even for months.
Finding at last, however, that, although I had been all this time a very
porcupine or hedgehog, bristling all over with determination, I had effected
nothing, it began to occur to me that perhaps Dora's mind was already formed.
    On further consideration this appeared so likely, that I abandoned my
scheme, which had had a more promising appearance in words than in action;
resolving henceforth to be satisfied with my child-wife, and to try to change
her into nothing else by any process. I was heartily tired of being sagacious
and prudent by myself, and of seeing my darling under restraint; so, I bought a
pretty pair of earrings for her, and a collar for Jip, and went home one day to
make myself agreeable.
    Dora was delighted with the little presents, and kissed me joyfully; but,
there was a shadow between us, however
