"He's the sweetest boy I know," commented little Mrs. Tanner, whose
husband had barked about the midiron.

"I've heard he's the only man you ever really loved," murmured Rolfe,
close to her ear.

"Nonsense! I've known him all my life," she replied, with quick and
suspicious resentment.

"Trite phrase," scoffed he. "I'll wager my head that every woman
living has uttered that same worn expression a hundred times. 'Known
him all my life!' Ha, ha! It's a stock apology, my dear. Women, good
and bad, trade under that flag. Please, to oblige me, get a fresh
excuse."

"The most ignorant duffer in the world could lay you a stymie if---"
the loud-voiced golfer was complaining just at that instant. The man
he was addressing was nodding his head politely and at the same time
trying to hear what was being said at the round table.

"Joe Dauntless is good enough for anybody's daughter," vouchsafed the
blase man in corduroys.

"He's a ripping good fellow," again said Mrs. Scudaway.

"Mrs. Thursdale's got an English governess for her kids, an English
butler, an English bull terrier, and a new Cobden-Sanderson binding on
that antique History of England she talks so much about," observed
Carter.