Ethel Watts Mumford

“ Aren't men stupid, though?"
Lady Cuthbridge sighed, opened her lips as if to say something further, closed them again with a think-better-of-it expression, and prepared to leave. Mrs. Challoner accompanied her to the elevator, and returned to find Paula in negligée, extended full length on the settee.
Illustration: On the end of the dock stood Paula.
"Mabel is such a pretty girl," chatted Paula; "and she's so popular. She always has crowds of men around her. There were at least a dozen more for tea—waiting till we came home. ”

“ Oh! we shall have to snare him, my dear. I say! can't you bring Miss—er—Folsome over to Cuthbridge House to-morrow for tea? I'll have Cyril there. I've asked Diana De Mall and Evelyn Manners. Cyril likes Diana, but, poor dear! she's got to marry money, too. Yes," judicially, "if this millionairess ducky of yours will do at all——" her mellow voice trailed into silence, as she arose from the settee with languid grace. "To-morrow, then, Jeanne, my love, at five and the golden gosling—c'est entendu?"
"This very afternoon," affirmed Mrs. Challoner, "the gosling shall be rounded up. ”

“ Challoner, sympathetically responsive, "you needn't worry. Nobody seems to be able to rope a really eligible man these days. Bee Benton says they've all emigrated."
The conversation took place the following day in the pink and grey salon of confidences.
"Which prompts one to inquire," observed Lady Cuthbridge, "where is the treasure to-day?"
"Off with a schoolmate, my dear, a Mrs. Hasbrook, who is living at Victoria Mansions, and of whom she'd been seeing a great deal before I came. Paula asked me for permission to spend the day with her, motoring; so I let her go. ”

“ The men won't follow us—that's all. Which explains so many militant suffragettes in 'Merry' England. By the way, did you see the last Pankhurst manifesto?"
The manless argument became heated, and it was growing late when the party separated.
"She's perfect," Lady Cuthbridge murmured to Mrs. Challoner. "And so alive, my dear. Now, if only—I'll arrange for Cyril and tea on the Terrace to-morrow."
THE morrow and Lady Cuthbridge produced the promised tea, and an elderly representative from Yorkshire. ”

“ Mortimer to tea with us, but I've made engagements. Perhaps a little later in the week, then—charmed, I'm sure—and au revoir."
Once in the open air she gave a sigh of relief. The combined weight of rosewood, mahogany, silver, and the late lamented Queen Victoria's substantial shadow, seemed to be lifted at once from her shoulders and her spirit.
DULY the next day Paula arrived, bags, trunks, boxes, and Maltese poodle. Mrs. Challoner was more and more captivated. "Probable young person, indeed! Just let Vi see for herself!" ”

“ The longest-living author of this work died in 1940, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 83 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works. ”