Carroll Watson Rankin

“ Directly back of the Payson lot stood a huge ice-house, painted dark red and relieved by only one solitary aperture, which might as well have been left out, since it was always closely shuttered by a rough door, also painted red. The sheltered garden, however, was now just exactly the place for tender young seedlings and for Selma, who was never so happy, apparently, as when, her indoor work done, she was down on her knees transplanting infant pansies and youthful lettuces. ”

“ She seemed to crave no other society than the house afforded.
"I just love that girl," said Isabel, enthusiastically. "She's as guileless as an infant—such a sweet, wholesome creature. I'm tremendously proud of myself. It takes me to straighten out domestic difficulties and to circumvent Cupid. Man does n't exist so far as Selma is concerned."
It certainly seemed as if Isabel were right. Eleanor, too, was thoroughly satisfied, and even Richard ceased to scoff. ”

“ Payson wanted a cook. Isabel was so confident that her plan would prove a success that she persuaded Eleanor to abandon her first choice, an elderly, well-recommended, but decidedly unprepossessing spinster named Matilda McGillicuddy, in favor of an attractive young Swedish girl, whose first name was Selma, but whose surname was both unspellable and unpronounceable. ”