Mrs. Wilson Woodrow

“ I'm afraid it would bore a man; and then, too,” she added reflectively, “it can't really be called a story at all, because it has no ending.”
“Ah!” said Willy. “I have come to the conclusion that they are the only interesting ones. They excite curiosity, stimulate interest, and you find yourself turning them over and over in your mind in the hope of finding a reasonable solution long after the rounded and complete story has been forgotten.”
Miss Mayhew threw a quick, half-quizzical glance at him. “I'm afraid then,” she said, “that my story is going to prove a disappointment to you. ”

“ Rose remembered that the day before, when she had met her, the thing that had most impressed her about Miss Mayhew was a certain noticeable faculty of intense observation, and that when she had spoken of her afterward to Miss Hodgkins and had asked that prim person's opinion of her, the secretary had replied, without hesitation:
“I think she has more curiosity than any one I have ever met. Her eyes are everywhere.” ”

“ We are poverty-stricken wretches, you know, but we are also experienced travelers, and usually manage to get the best of everything at the least possible price; and so it is a joy to our souls to revel about Paris, and pick up a few bargains in hats and gowns, and keep in touch with things generally.
“Ordinarily we never have any difficulty in getting into the big houses and seeing the frocks. We are rather well known; and then, too, we have friends at court. You can get ideas that way, and enjoy all the beautiful things, ever if you haven't money enough to buy them. ”

“ Gaines that interesting story you told us about those Paris frocks, and I got all mixed up, and even Miss Hodgkins, who is usually as accurate as a clock, couldn't help me out.”
At this polite fiction, Miss Hodgkins' back seemed to stiffen slightly; but she was too cognizant of the duties of her position, and also too thoroughly accustomed to Rose's graceful extravagances of speech—regarding the latter as a manifestation of the singer's unregenerate Irish inheritance—to show her disapproval.
“Oh, that!” Vivien Mayhew smiled deprecatingly. “That is a thoroughly feminine little tale. ”

“ There is no reasonable solution—at least, they tell me that the best French detectives haven't found one, if there is.”
“I wonder if you dimly realize how exciting all this is?” exclaimed Gaines. “To pit one's brains against the best French detectives in mentally unraveling a plot is a situation I don't often encounter in real life. Miss Mayhew,” pleadingly, as Vivien laughed again, “won't you please begin?” ”

“ I want them fully to realize how dreadful it was to our confident souls to find ourselves peris shut out of paradise. But really now,” patting her mother's arm reassuringly, “I will be serious, and tell this moving tale quite straight.
“Then, ladies and gentlemen,” nodding gayly to Gaines, “you can imagine our feelings last month when we were met by stern warders at the entrance of each atelier, and informed that we were required to make a formal statement in writing of just how much money we meant to spend, and just what kinds of gowns we meant to order ”

“ The man who succeeds, Rose, is the man who never sees failure.”
“My patience! There is really no reason why I should have to stand this sort of thing. What is Miss Hodgkins good for? Hereafter any one who wishes to marry me will have to propose in writing, and Miss Hodgkins can have the pleasure of replying to him. Thank goodness!” looking wildly about her. “A sail—a sail! Here come Miss Mayhew and Mr. ”