George A. Birmingham

“ Many men dislike looking at their letters before breakfast. It is easier, no doubt, to face a bill cheerfully after a solid meal, and the prospect of having to answer tiresome people is not so irritating when the stomach is full. But neither bills nor bores had any power to annoy Sir Hilary. He had always money enough to satisfy the most exorbitant creditor, and since his marriage he had adopted the plan of handing over the letters of his relatives to his wife. Lady Boden appeared to enjoy writing letters, and Sir Hilary, who was very fond of her, did not grudge her any innocent pleasure. ”

“ In my opinion this Gladys Gordon, whoever she is, deserves the worst that can possibly be written about her. She ends the book by saying that the hero rains passionate kisses upon Muriel's red-gold hair. Now any one who could write that——! No man living would kiss a woman's hair more than once. He'd get it into his mouth the first time he tried, and any one who has ever experienced the sensation of chewing hair knows how disagreeable it is. Gladys Gordon is evidently a fool, or she wouldn't say such a thing.”
“He would kiss her hair if he really loved her,” said Lady Boden. ”

“ Sir Hilary sat down to breakfast in a very good temper. The two archæological journals lay forgotten in his dressing-room. The novel was beside his plate. Lady Boden, who was usually very late, appeared, unexpectedly, shortly after the gong rang. Sir Hilary was glad to see her. He was fond of his wife, and he wanted some one to talk to about the review he intended to write of the novel.
“Marion,” he said, “you read a good many modern novels. Can you explain to me why the heroines always have red hair?” ”