H. B. Marriott Watson

“ Miss Hewitt's nostrils curled in scorn. "Good people are always so particular," I said, philosophically. Miss Hewitt's indignation broke forth. "Do you suppose, Mr. Randall," said she, sarcastically, "that one would allow anyone that wished to——" "Oh, I never said anyone," I interrupted, hastily. "No, certainly not anyone." She looked at me with undisguised hauteur. I glanced about the stall. "I should like to have a lot of those things," I said. "I could send them to a children's hospital, you know." Miss Hewitt's face relaxed slightly. "They would be very useful," she said. ”

“ I took out my pocketbook and extracted some notes, dividing my looks between the two stalls in a hesitating way. "I think the children in the hospital would like the toys very much," said Miss Hewitt, nervously. "Yes, they could play with the stockings nicely, couldn't they?" said I. She paid no heed to this remark.
"I wonder if Miss Chudleigh would do what the Duchess did," I observed, presently. "Perhaps you had better ask her," said Miss Hewitt, sarcastically. "Oh, no," I said, hurriedly; "I was only wondering. For the sake of the poor, people do make sacrifices, I suppose." ”

“ The inconsistency of your sex is a puzzle," I remarked, shaking my head. "Oh, but I didn't think about that," she said, with a blush. "I only thought you wanted——" "Come then," I said, "what would you do to get rid of all your articles of commerce?" Miss Hewitt's eyes opened. "Oh, if I could only do that," she exclaimed. "Well, how far would you be prepared to go for it?" said I, insinuatingly. She paused. "I'd—I'd give up the ball to-night," she exclaimed, impulsively. I shook my head. "I have no means of gauging the value of that renunciation," I said, thoughtfully ”