"It's very nice in you to take so cheerful a view of it.

SOMEBODY had to marry him, doubtless, and it's real gratifying to see one accepting the visitations of Providence in so commendable a spirit." To use the language of diplomacy, the relations between these ladies had now become so strained that a rupture seemed unavoidable.
"Heavens, will this quarrel ne'er be mended ?" quoted Anna Bayne, not all sorry that these veteran word-swordsmen, dreaded by everybody, were for once turning their weapons on each other.
Peace-making was one of the prerogatives assumed by Mrs.Tufis, as belonging to the social leadership to which she had elected herself.

She now hastened to check the rapidly-opening breach.
"Ladies," she said blandly, "the discussion has wandered.

Our first remarks were, I believe about Miss Bond, and there was a surmise as to her reasons for discontinuing attendance upon our meetings." The diversion had the anticipated effect.

The two disputants gladly quit each other, to turn upon and rend the object flung in between them.
"Why Rachel Bond don't come here any more ?" said Mrs.Grimes, with a sniff that was one of the keenest-edged weapons in her controversial armory.