Guy Wetmore Carryl

“ I’m thankful we all have it — though as for your Aunt Helen, hers is about like that of a fly.”
“Flies have very good appetites — judging from all I’ve seen, that is,” said Dorothy, “so I don’t think she is to be commiserated on that account.”
“That was only a figure of speech, my dear,” replied Mrs. Rathbawne, with engaging placidity. “Mercy! but I’m glad to get home. We’ve had a positively exhausting day with Natalie’s shopping, and the worst of it is to think what a lot more there is to do. A wedding certainly is an undertaking, Mr. Nisbet.” ”

“ Dorothy!”
“I always think,” said Mrs. Wynyard, “that Dorothy should have had a fairy godmother, to promise that every time she uttered a word of slang a pearl should pop out of her mouth. We should have all been wearing triple strings down to our knees within a week after she learned to talk.”
“That settles it!” exclaimed Dorothy. “If you are going to side with the enemy, Aunt Helen, there is nothing left for me to do but to beat a retreat. Come on, Mr. Nisbet, there is rest for the weary in the conservatory — that is, unless you want another cup of tea?” ”

“ Nisbet?” suggested Mrs. Rathbawne. “Mr. Barclay is in the drawing-room with my elder daughter, and he is so greatly occupied with affairs of state that they have very little time together. I hate to have them interrupted. One can do so much harm sometimes, you know, by thoughtlessly interrupting people who are in love with each other. Thank you so much; good-by. Do try to stand a little straighter, Dorothy, my dear.” ”

“ He had always been accustomed to have the things he desired, had young Nisbet, but these, until now, had been either creature comforts, readily obtainable when one’s father is a multi-millionaire, or athletic honors, equally easy of attainment when one measures forty-two around the chest, and can do one’s quarter in something under fifty. ”

“ Rathbawne now!
“One has to keep his position in mind,” she was saying. “It isn’t like the usual marriage, which interests only the families and friends of the persons concerned, you know. It isn’t even as if only Kenton City were looking on. All Alleghenia will be on the qui vive, [1] Mr. Nisbet, all the state of Alleghenia. I shouldn’t wonder if some notice were taken of the event, even at Washington. Marrying a statesman, you see, a Lieutenant-Governor! Oh, it’s quite different — quite! Do sit up straight, Dorothy, my dear!” ”

“ That’s it — white!”
“I can understand a man like that getting spliced,” observed young Nisbet very earnestly. “He has so much to offer a girl. But as for the rest of us” —
“Oh, as to that,” broke in Dorothy airily, “John Barclay isn’t the only man in the world, by any manner of means! Besides, Natalie having already bagged him, it is plain I shall have to look elsewhere.” ”

“ Beauty, wit, and infallible tact she inherited from her mother, shrewd business ability and a keen insight into men and things from her father, and wealth and a certain attractive audacity of speech from her husband ”