W. Pett Ridge

“ There was no harm in being polite to so old a woman.
"And now zere is but one zing to be done."
She felt in the bosom of her dress and looked anxiously at the clock.
"Oh," said Northfleet. "It's not really finished yet, then."
"Ah," said the Sister of Mercy, "allevays the merry one of the party. You like my disguise, eh?"
She had a small canvas bag in her hands.
"Oh, I think it capital," said Frank Northfleet, with an amused air. "You look exceedingly well in it; but I must take my seat in the train." ”

“ Mercury had just seen that the mail trains were safely dispatched, and was keeping one eye on the railway system generally.
"I was thinking that it wouldn't be a bad plan," said Juno, "if it could be arranged, for no girl to be married more than once. Then we should get these figures something like right."
Jupiter snorted, and moved his lips silently as one who does not care to trust himself to speech. Mercury coughed, and remarked, diplomatically, that, of course, there was something in the idea, but——
"Well," said Juno. "But what?"
"I should like to tell a tale," said Mercury. ”

“ Northfleet, acutely.
"He is abroad to America gone."
"That's a good thing. But I have a fearful memory, as you know——"
"You vas allevays forgetting somethings."
"Well," asked Northfleet, ingeniously, "where did the robbery take place?"
"Oh, you foony fellow," said the Sister of Mercy. "As if you didn't know quite well. You had no hand in it; but, of course, there is your share to gonsider." ”