Guy Wetmore Carryl

“ And he had been so extremely civil, Dorothy, about our seats and all that, that I thought it would seem rather ungracious to refuse the first favor he had ever asked of me. So I said yes.”
“Aunt Helen, Aunt Helen! One of these fine days you will be the death of me. Did any one ever hear of such a reason for accepting a man?” ”

“ One can’t very well set one’s self up in opposition to a business guide, you know.”
“But he’s old enough to be your father, Aunt Helen!”
“That’s precisely the reason why there wouldn’t have been any sense in my promising to be a sister to him. You see, I was quite helpless in the matter from start to finish.”
“And it was only last night that you called me preposterous!” laughed Dorothy. “Really, Aunt Helen, people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. I think you are the most absurd creature in the world. Do you love him?” ”

“ I’ve just told Thomas to take a plate of bread in at once. I’m sure Mr. Nisbet won’t mind: get him to help you. Er — ahem! And I’ll be back in about fifteen minutes, or so.”
For a time there was silence in the big, warm conservatory. Young Nisbet had taken the dish from Dorothy’s hands, and, after seating himself on the low marble parapet surrounding the pool, devoted his energies to feeding the gold-fish. He was thinking that it was all to be done over again, and that it was harder than ever, if such a thing were possible, to do. ”

“ I’m very fond of you, as you know, and my interest is far from being vulgar curiosity. Of a woman’s five cardinal failings — inquisitiveness, extravagance, vanity, vacillation, and loquacity — I’m guiltless of all except the last and most innocent. ”

“ Chapter XI. Young Nisbet Finds His Tongue “I have promised to marry Colonel Broadcastle,” announced Mrs. Wynyard when the silence had lasted twenty minutes.
Dorothy flung round from the window against which she had been mercilessly pressing her pretty nose.
“Why, Aunt Helen!” she exclaimed. “You really are the most startlingly abrupt person I ever knew. Are you in earnest? What under the sun possessed you to do that?” ”

“ For the first time in his experience, her presence did not embarrass him.
“I’ve dropped a dish into your pool, Mrs. Rathbawne,” he said, “and scared the gold fish into blue conniption fits. Look how they are scurrying around. I hope I haven’t done them any harm.”
“Oh, no,” answered Mrs. Rathbawne placidly. “They are getting so fat that I should think a little exercise, now and again, would be good for them. We might drop a dish into the pool every week or so, Dorothy, just to stir them up.”
“It might go for a while,” said young Nisbet, “but any old football player like myself, Mrs. ”