When the maid had disappeared Dahlia got on her feet, and steadied herself by the wall, tottering away to her chamber.
"Ah, poor thing!" ejaculated the young man, not without an idea that the demonstration was unnecessary.

For what is decidedly disagreeable is, in a young man's calculation concerning women, not necessary at all,--quite the reverse.

Are not women the flowers which decorate sublunary life?
It is really irritating to discover them to be pieces of machinery, that for want of proper oiling, creak, stick, threaten convulsions, and are tragic and stir us the wrong way.

However, champagne does them good: an admirable wine--a sure specific for the sex! He searched around for the keys to get at a bottle and uncork it forthwith.

The keys were on the mantelpiece a bad comment on Dahlia's housekeeping qualities; but in the hurry of action let it pass.