Guy Boothby

“ Belverton, the third cleverest woman in Australia, as she lowered the window-blind of her brougham on the way home from the Bishop’s Court garden party, “I’ve been thinking.”
“And how does the result affect me?” asked her husband, who understood his wife’s ways. “Do we give the Olway-Belton couple silver entrée dishes and our best wishes, or apostle spoons and serviette rings?”
“Don’t be silly! I’ve been thinking that a man of your ability is utterly wasted in a little pettifogging colony like this.” ”

“ William Belverton as receiving the honour of knighthood.
One morning when Lady Belverton had perused her English mail she sat buried in deepest thought. At length she turned from the fire.
“William, sometimes I feel tempted to believe that it is possible for a woman to control fate.”
“I don’t doubt it for a moment,” said her husband. “Am I to assist you in any way?”
“I think so; I am not quite sure. What are your opinions regarding the representative of this colony in London?”
“I think we are represented by a thoroughly capable and hard-working man.” ”

“ Driving home from a dinner party one night she laid her hand on her husband’s arm and said solemnly—
“Will, the time has come; to-morrow you must set to work.”
“Very well, my dear,” he answered; “but what am I to work at?”
It would take too long to give her exact reply, but summed up it was to this effect—
She began by pointing out the terrible financial condition of the colony at that time, both regarding its credit abroad and the effect at home. She spoke of the gambling mania that was overwhelming it. ”