"'The Lord is debonair,Let sinners not despair,'"said he, and they smiled into each other's eyes.And so their ship swept out to sea.Ashore, one or two acrid things were said. In a little detached group, of which Mrs. Gruyère, Mrs. Lace, and Cora de Grey were the central figures, Brookfield thought it interesting to say:"There's a rumour that she's as wicked as her books—if so, Carson is not to be envied."Cora de Grey, who was sometimes also calledCobrade Grey, bit into him swiftly:"If she's wicked, she's clever beyond the cleverness of any woman, for none of her men friends have ever given her away.""Hermenfriends—that's a new story!" retorted the surprised Brookfield."Oh, no; quite an old story amongst married women," said Cora, with her Karoo smile. "When a woman isreallywicked, some renegade will always tell his dearest friend, or his wife, and then—short shrift forher."Brookfield retired.Mrs. Gruyère said:"It's a scandal that he didn't marry May Mappin. And IknowCharles Bramham was in love withher. What will he do now, I wonder?"Mrs. Gruyère's voice was so penetrating that it often reached the ears of her victims. Bramham, coming up, answered her cheerfully."Oh, haven't you heard?" said he, grinning. "My dear Mrs. Haybittel is arriving from Paris to pay Durban a visit. Everyone is sure to make her as comfortable as they can—for fear she should make them as uncomfortable asshecan. She says she's bringing out twelve trunks full of French gowns."This was terrible news for Mrs. Gruyère, who onlyfeared two things on earth—French gowns and the malicious pen of Mrs. Haybittel. But she preserved a brave front."Let us hope that she has had her face enamelled to wear with them," was her last barb.Driving home, Clem said to her husband:"Will they be happy, think you, Billy-Bill?" And he, with the deep wisdom vouchsafed only to true lovers, answered her:"Happy? Of course not! But they will count unhappiness with each other the best that Life can give."FINIS.Transcriber's Notes:p. 22 corrected doubled "she"p. 68 "unwittingy" changed to "unwittingly"p. 72 "eared" changed to "cared"p. 110 "relasped" changed to "relapsed"p. 146 "widow" changed to "window"p. 178 "quater" changed to "quarter"p. 183 "champange" changed to "champagne"p. 272 "aways" changed to "always"p. 356 "whatver" changed to "whatever"p. 361 "knowlege" changed to "knowledge"p. 377 "found" changed to "round"p. 449 "love each very much" changed to "love each other very much"Minor punctuation corrections left unnoted.Words with multiple spellings left as in original.
"'The Lord is debonair,Let sinners not despair,'"
"'The Lord is debonair,Let sinners not despair,'"
said he, and they smiled into each other's eyes.
And so their ship swept out to sea.
Ashore, one or two acrid things were said. In a little detached group, of which Mrs. Gruyère, Mrs. Lace, and Cora de Grey were the central figures, Brookfield thought it interesting to say:
"There's a rumour that she's as wicked as her books—if so, Carson is not to be envied."
Cora de Grey, who was sometimes also calledCobrade Grey, bit into him swiftly:
"If she's wicked, she's clever beyond the cleverness of any woman, for none of her men friends have ever given her away."
"Hermenfriends—that's a new story!" retorted the surprised Brookfield.
"Oh, no; quite an old story amongst married women," said Cora, with her Karoo smile. "When a woman isreallywicked, some renegade will always tell his dearest friend, or his wife, and then—short shrift forher."
Brookfield retired.
Mrs. Gruyère said:
"It's a scandal that he didn't marry May Mappin. And IknowCharles Bramham was in love withher. What will he do now, I wonder?"
Mrs. Gruyère's voice was so penetrating that it often reached the ears of her victims. Bramham, coming up, answered her cheerfully.
"Oh, haven't you heard?" said he, grinning. "My dear Mrs. Haybittel is arriving from Paris to pay Durban a visit. Everyone is sure to make her as comfortable as they can—for fear she should make them as uncomfortable asshecan. She says she's bringing out twelve trunks full of French gowns."
This was terrible news for Mrs. Gruyère, who onlyfeared two things on earth—French gowns and the malicious pen of Mrs. Haybittel. But she preserved a brave front.
"Let us hope that she has had her face enamelled to wear with them," was her last barb.
Driving home, Clem said to her husband:
"Will they be happy, think you, Billy-Bill?" And he, with the deep wisdom vouchsafed only to true lovers, answered her:
"Happy? Of course not! But they will count unhappiness with each other the best that Life can give."
FINIS.
Transcriber's Notes:p. 22 corrected doubled "she"p. 68 "unwittingy" changed to "unwittingly"p. 72 "eared" changed to "cared"p. 110 "relasped" changed to "relapsed"p. 146 "widow" changed to "window"p. 178 "quater" changed to "quarter"p. 183 "champange" changed to "champagne"p. 272 "aways" changed to "always"p. 356 "whatver" changed to "whatever"p. 361 "knowlege" changed to "knowledge"p. 377 "found" changed to "round"p. 449 "love each very much" changed to "love each other very much"Minor punctuation corrections left unnoted.Words with multiple spellings left as in original.
Transcriber's Notes:
p. 22 corrected doubled "she"
p. 68 "unwittingy" changed to "unwittingly"
p. 72 "eared" changed to "cared"
p. 110 "relasped" changed to "relapsed"
p. 146 "widow" changed to "window"
p. 178 "quater" changed to "quarter"
p. 183 "champange" changed to "champagne"
p. 272 "aways" changed to "always"
p. 356 "whatver" changed to "whatever"
p. 361 "knowlege" changed to "knowledge"
p. 377 "found" changed to "round"
p. 449 "love each very much" changed to "love each other very much"
Minor punctuation corrections left unnoted.
Words with multiple spellings left as in original.