Anthony Hope

“ Clinton recognized his virtues. She called him an "old dear," with a fond, pitying smile on her lips, and would tell you, with an arch glance and the slightest of shrugs, that "he wrote too." If you asked what he wrote, she said that it was something musty," but that it kept him happy, and that he never minded being interrupted, or even having nowhere to write, because Muriel's dancing lesson occupied the dining-room, "and I really couldn't have him in my study. One must be alone to work, mustn't one?" She could not be blamed for holding her work above his ”

“ Clinton!"
"Papa doesn't care about novels much, really," said Muriel.
"You do, I suppose, young lady?" asked some one.
"I like papa's book better," the child answered, and we all laughed, Mrs. Clinton leading the chorus with almost exaggerated heartiness.
And then an enthusiastic woman must needs see where Mr. Thompson Clinton (the Prince Consort bid fair to be double-barreled before long) worked. She would take no denial, and at last Mrs. Clinton rose, and, in spite of her husband's protests, led the way to the study. ”

“ Clinton as "the Prince Consort." Mrs. Clinton laughed and blushed; Muriel clapped her hands and ran off to tell her father. She came back saying that he was very pleased with the name, and I believe that very possibly he really was. Anyhow, young Dulcet was immensely pleased with it; he repeated it, and it "caught on." I heard Mrs. Clinton herself, with a half-daring, half-modest air, use it more than once. Thus Mrs. Clinton was led to believe herself great: so that she once asked me if I thought that there was any prospect of The Quarterly "doing her." ”

“ Clinton, twisting a ring on her finger round and round. Suddenly the group opened, and the Prince Consort came through, leading Muriel by the hand. He marched across the room, followed by his admirers. I rose, and he stood close by his wife, and began to talk about her last novel. He said that it was wonderfully clever, and told us all to get it and read it. Everybody murmured that such was their intention, and a lady observed:
"How charming for you to be able to provide your husband with recreation, Mrs. ”