The Compleat Bachelor

inster), "you would like to go on to your club, and call f

but no company that you may enter is too bad for me. I ins

e lau

Chatterton says Loring says you never go to a

"but that Loring Chatterton should say so is rank ingratitude

s justly proud of her middle-aged brother, and likes to show him off to advantage), and preceded me into Millie Dixon's drawing-room. Some half-dozen ladie

s-over kiss on both cheeks, "but you can lean him up

y own flesh

upposed not to interest me. Mrs. Loring Chatterton, at my side, was rippling gently on the subject of a School of Art Needlework Exhibition, while Carrie and Mrs. Carmichael talked Marshall and Snelgrove to Cicely

ield?" called Miss Dixon fro

ixon looked a deprecating query as to when I should be

oring to-da

im this afternoon, so he said he would count the dreary hours t

ly into my cup. "I seem to remember that kind of thing fro

mean, Mr. B

y. But you don't suppose that Loring had the good fortune to happen o

nd I are old frie

ve, Mr. Butterfield? I know all about t

y turn t

He has, doubtless, given himself quite away, and half his bachelor friends into the bargain

eat deal," said Mrs.

rom her grandmothe

lumsy and boyish

superfluous

fair. Men have half a dozen flirtations before

Mrs. Chatter

tterfield, may not

a résume of female virtue

" cried Mrs. Carmichael from a remo

d beseechingly on my sleev

e your several husbands were enticed from the liberty of

Mr. Butterfield," returned Mrs. Carmichael. "You

n the wedding-service, nor forget my past in a honeymoon. I am sti

deal worse," re

tty compliment, Mrs. C

was you who made Kit as bad

ice you on their nuptial altars. Their eyes lost their singleness with their hearts, and your re

ed within me. I leaned forward, and

o me. There was not a more abandoned and desperately wicked trio in

top me with a hot teaspoon laid

needs go afield, and corrupt the spotless name of one-oh, Carrie, Carrie, what your poo

the damning testimony in mock admiration of the dramatic skill with which it was uttered. Ci

. Vicars with a pretty gesture of her hand. Mrs. Vicars paints flowers,

no regrets for a misspent youth. Charlie Vicars wasted his youth most shamefully. M

to her

y; then turned quite pink. It was a pretty situation.

ixon came t

ence over that irrepressible man. Do gag him for a few minutes;"

reminiscence of fun still in her eyes, accepted t

d it's my opinion you never will be. Oh, I wish I could get you off my ha

e there was a fox, who was caught in a tra

eaned over, and spoke quite low-"I believe you make out your young days

uty-spot on her conscience w