"But you--could?" suggested Mrs. Hilary.

"Of course," said I.

She jumped up and ran towards me. Her purse was in one hand, and
a bit of paper fluttered in the other.

"Send him that--don't tell him," she whispered, and her voice had
a little catch in it. "Poor little wretch!" said she.

As for me, I smiled cynically--quite cynically, you know; for it
was very absurd.

"Please do," said Mrs. Hilary.

And I went.

Supposing it had been another woman? Well, I wonder!



AN EXPENSIVE PRIVILEGE

A rather uncomfortable thing happened the other day which
threatened a schism in my acquaintance and put me in a decidedly
awkward position. It was no other than this: Mrs. Hilary
Musgrave had definitely informed me that she did not approve of
Lady Mickleham. The attitude is, no doubt, a conceivable one,
but I was surprised that a woman of Mrs. Hilary's large