The Dull Miss Archinard

om just before lunch. Miss Odd sat by the open French window cutting the leaves of a review. There were several more reviews on the table beside her, and with her eyegl

, as when one had noticed her it was impossible not to find her beautiful. It was not a loveliness that admitted of discussion. In desperate rebellion against an almost tame conformity, a rash person might assert that to him her type did not appeal; but the type was resplendent. Perhaps too resplendent; in this extreme lay the o

y; it rippled, coiled, and curved about her head. Her profile was bewildering-lazil

ar ago. He was still young and literary, and, as he was swept out

eaking as he en

do with it." Without turning her head, she turne

was cutting rather grimly, and her cold

er," she s

ng a seat near Alicia, and smiling responsively at his si

ntrast of physical

ing had been Miss Odd's favorite diversion during her father's lifetime. "But the pretty o

a person is Mr

he army when he married her, and immediately spent her money. Luckily for him poor Mr. Archinard died-Jack A

remarks on your Allersley neighbors are very pungent and very true, no

many frien

ar Alle

Fox, Mrs. Maynard, Lady Mainwaring,

es wear! Lady Mainwaring I remember in London, trying to marry off her eight

rness, if that is what y

th the course of events, when events ar

es

ere was no disloyalty in saying so, for it is

riends are not, and n

h the unhappy, helpless look men wear when t

't it almost lunch-time?"

her watch. "It only

sweep of lawn, with its lime-trees and copper b

g down at the fragrant greenness that came to the window. Alic

licia had given him, that the walk was only proposed as a slight to Mary, he felt the old pleasure in her beauty-a rather sickly, pallid pleasu

and Mary knew the nearness of the s

Alicia's lonely complacency-a pathos emph

alked slowly across the lawn. "She has such a strong sen

ust, thought Odd, be a sorry wretch. He met the revealment of Alicia's shallow selfishness with humorous gentleness. She had been shallow and selfish when he had marr

tent-leather shoe into the turf with lazy emphasis as she walked, for Alicia was n

er home than mine, but she would go directly if either you or she found it d

ant things, Peter. Wh

you made it

y Mary won't want to go

n a level with his eyes. "Like everybody else, you are not perfection, and, as Mary is somewhat of a disciplinarian, y

eter." Alicia left the subject of Mar

, not to say genius. It can be learned though

uld bear anyt

'll do anything I can, you know. I believe in a woman's individuality a

at her, conscious of

lly claiming of more duties that do no good when they're done. I am an absolutely banal person, Peter; my mind to me isn't a kingdo

ore them were meadows dotted with the harmless

f bucolic immutability. You've had plenty of London for the past ye

in for a seat in

lly? I have hardly time for my scr

keeping it up. No, I like seeing people and being seen, and

London next year. We'l

knew that I was a society beauty and that only. I am a very shallow person, I suppose, Peter; I certainly can't pretend to have depths-eve

e with you because you were beautifu

ile was tinged deepened into a goo

in, you know. Your enthusiasm was awfully flattering. I am very sorry you idealized me, Peter. I a