Mrs. Wilson Woodrow

“ Her voice was hesitating, as if she were choosing her words with special care. “Either he or I had to come to this country to look after a certain matter, to—to—attend to some finances. It was thought best, for a number of reasons, that I should come.” Again she sighed heavily. “My work is about finished now, and I shall soon be returning.”
“But people do not always stay married,” he said boyishly. “Vivien, if you don't love him, why couldn't it be arranged for you to be free? I have such a beastly lot of money, you know. Oh, Vivien, if you only would!” ”

“ Rose, who had been watching the gambols of Ahmed upon the lawn, had just told Ernestine to take him in lest he get his paws wet with the dew, and thereby suffer a chill, and was herself preceding them, when, quite inadvertently, she came upon Willy Gaines and Sonia MacKenzie, standing so absorbed in conversation that they were unconscious of her approach. ”

“ It is growing late.”
“But, Vivien,” he pleaded, “listen to——”
“It's no use, Phil,” she answered. “It never will be any use—and now it's good night.”
Whether under the influence of the romantic star or incited thereto by the sweetness of the night, or by the sight of a half moon shedding its silver beams over the ocean, at the same time that poor Phil Wodeburn was receiving the greatest disappointment of his young life, Willy Gaines was occupied in assuring Rose O'Hara of his oft-told and undying devotion. ”

“ CHAPTER IX. But the pleasure of being proved right loses half its keenness if one has to carry about that knowledge unuttered and unshared, and Rose was realizing this after the first pleasure in Madame Arnold's revelations had become a little subdued by much contemplation. She longed to triumph openly over Willy. He had been so very sure that he was right in regarding Mrs. Darrell as a scheming adventuress and in trying in every way to shield and exculpate Sonia MacKenzie. ”

“ Instead of the daring and accomplished sportswoman, the merry girl, ready for any adventure in any kind of weather, was a woman who had paled and saddened, and who looked at him with a great wistfulness in her eyes. ”

“ Will Ernestine be bringing Ahmed out for a good-night kiss before he says his prayers, or will Miss Hodgkins be chasing out on some fool errand or other?”
“Ernestine is probably at this moment engaged in a flirtation with one or another of the good-looking chauffeurs, while Miss Hodgkins is beyond doubt walking up and down the porches in her pursuit of fresh air. ”

“ So Rose, delighted with the success of her plans, and gloating over the discomfiture of Willy Gaines, informed Miss Hodgkins that she would have a small party the next evening, and requested her to make arrangements about the flowers and the supper at once.
Then she hastened to invite in person Mrs. and Miss Mayhew, Sonia MacKenzie, Phil Wodeburn, and Willy Gaines. These, with Monsieur and Madame Arnold and herself, comprised the party. ”