It's all very well for _you_, you know.

Ah! if I had your independence! What I would make of my life!--Till Thursday, then, and don't, please, be bored with my letters." This Mrs.Woolstan wrote and posted before luncheon.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, just when she was preparing to go out, the servant made known to her that Mr.Wrybolt had called.

What, Mr.Wrybolt again! With delay which was meant to be impressive, she descended to the drawing-room, and coldly greeted the gentleman of the red neck and heavy eyelids.

Mr.Wrybolt's age was about five and forty; he had the well-groomed appearance of a flourishing City man, and presented no sinister physiognomy; one augured in him a disposition to high-feeding and a masculine self-assertiveness.