contemporary abstract painting

The system thus entered on, I pursued during the whole season of
probation; and with the best success. He was kept, to be sure,
rather cross and crusty; but on the whole I could see he was
excellently entertained, and that a lamb-like submission and
turtle-dove sensibility, while fostering his despotism more, would
have pleased his judgment, satisfied his common sense, and even suited
his taste less.
In other people's presence I was, as formerly, deferential and
quiet; any other line of conduct being uncalled for: it was only in
the evening conferences I thus thwarted and afflicted him. He
continued to send for me punctually the moment the clock struck seven;
though when I appeared before him now, he had no such honeyed terms as
'love' and 'darling' on his lips: the best words at my service were
'provoking puppet,' 'malicious elf,' 'sprite,' 'changeling,' etc.
For caresses, too, I now got grimaces; for a pressure of the hand, a
pinch on the arm; for a kiss on the cheek, a severe tweak of the
ear. It was all right: at present I decidedly preferred these fierce
favours to anything more tender. Mrs. Fairfax, I saw, approved me: her