Mary Stewart Cutting

“ But after Harry had peeped out from the curtains some twenty times to see if grandmamma was coming, and little Marjorie had fallen down and raised a large bump on her forehead, and the one-o'clock train had come in, there was a certain change in the situation. The cook sent up word should she put on the oysters, and Mrs. Waring answered no, to wait until the next train, although that did not arrive until two o'clock. She pretended that her guests had missed the earlier train, but in her soul she felt the cold chill of certainty that they would not come. ”

“ In the city people carelessly come and go, and the household of the entertainer is put to no special preparation for them, but it is an unwritten law in the country that before the advent of the seldom guest "to spend' the day" the entire domicile must be swept and garnished from top to bottom.
As Ethel Waring rubbed and polished and dusted she could but remember that she had gone through the process of cleaning three times before for Henry's mother, who had always hitherto disappointed her. ”

“ Waring.
On her return to the nursery she took occasion to reprove Beesy for gossiping. Beesy was loud in extenuation. In a cottage one is thrown in rather close companionship with one's nurse-maid.
"Ah, I never said but two words to Ellen; but Mrs. Livermore—there's nothing she doesn't find out. And the way she and Mr. Livermore quar'ls!"
"Why, she says he is so devoted to her," said Mrs. Waring incautiously. "He brings her flowers every week." She sighed as she thought of the husband who did not bring them once a year. ”

“ I often think how lonely you must be, knowing so few people. A man so seldom realizes what a woman's life is! He goes off into the busy world every morning, little thinking of all she must endure throughout the day. I often watch you look after your husband when he has left you in the morning; you look so longingly, dear. I said to Mr. Morris just the other day, 'I do wish Mr. Waring would look back just once at that sweet young wife of his.' Mr. ”

“ The lining of this sleeve— Yes, I know you haven't had time to mend it yet. Now, Doll, I would like to stand here and kiss you all day, but the train is whistling across the bridge. By, by, dear; take good care of yourself and the babies! ”

“ Come, Marjorie, sweetest, play pat-a-cake with mamma—this way, baby darling. Oh, Beesy, there's the bell again!"
This time it was a neighbor whom Mrs. Waring had met before and rather liked, a gentle, faded, sympathetic woman who had admired the children. Mrs. Waring confided some of the household perplexities to her, and they talked of the village markets and compared notes on prices, gradually reaching even more personal ground. Mrs. Waring finally divulged the fact that this was the anniversary of her wedding, and received her guest's congratulations. ”

“ Ethel, my dear girl, don't cry.. If I had had the dimmest idea—I seem always fated to do the wrong thing lately. Why. can't you tell me sometimes what you're driving at? If you don't want my mother and the girls, just say so. ”