Marie gave me one horrified look, then at once and immediately she became possessed with the idea that she _was_ a dowdy woman.

And from that day to this she has pursued every lurking wrinkle and every fold awry, until her dressmaker's life isn't worth the living; and I'm beginning to think mine isn't, either, for I have to assure her at least four times every day now that she is _not_ a dowdy woman." "You poor dear," laughed Bertram.

"No wonder you don't have time to give to me!" A peculiar expression crossed Billy's face.
"Oh, but I'm not the _only_ one who, at times, is otherwise engaged, sir," she reminded him.
"What do you mean ?" "There was yesterday, and last Monday, and last week Wednesday, and--" "Oh, but you _let_ me off, then," argued Bertram, anxiously.

"And you said--" "That I didn't wish to interfere with your work--which was quite true," interrupted Billy in her turn, smoothly.

"By the way,"-- Billy was examining her stitches very closely now--"how is Miss Winthrop's portrait coming on ?" "Splendidly!--that is, it _was_, until she began to put off the sittings for her pink teas and folderols.