I enticed him into my house to-day, and as I kept him a long time, I thought I would come over and apologize for his absence." "I did not know that he had been with you," said Mrs.Balfour, coolly.
"He could do no less than come to me when I asked him to do so," said Mrs.Dillingham; "and I was entirely to blame for his remaining with me so long.

You ladies who have children cannot know how sweet their society sometimes is to those who have none." Mrs.Balfour was surprised.

She saw in her visitor's eyes the evidence of recent tears, and there was a moisture in them then, and a subdued and tender tone to her voice which did not harmonize at all with her conception of Mrs.Dillingham's nature and character.

Was she trying her arts upon her?
She knew of her intimacy with Mr.Belcher, and naturally connected the visit with that unscrupulous person's schemes.
Mrs.Balfour was soon relieved by the entrance of her husband, who greeted Mrs.Dillingham in the old, stereotyped, gallant way in which gentlemen were accustomed to address her.

How did she manage to keep herself so young?
Would she be kind enough to give Mrs.Balfour the name of her hair-dresser?
What waters had she bathed in, what airs had she breathed, that youth should clothe her in such immortal fashion?
Quite to his surprise, Mrs.Dillingham had nothing to say to this badinage.