The Disagreeable Woman

ficence had lived in a large mansion on Fourteenth Street, and kept her carriage. When her husband died suddenly of apopl

ding-house on Waverley Place. This she had conducted for ten years, and it yielded her

y, and she felt a personal interest in each and all. When they became too deeply in arrears, they re

called a "speech from the throne." Usually we could tell when this was going to take place. She moved about

red rightly. Mrs. Gray was a

ve a gratifying [Pg 52]announcement to make. We are

asked the w

upon her a look o

high family. Count Ant

led fellow boarder, and democratic as we were we were pleased

arder she looked upon as her constituent, if I may use this word, and she

like, Mrs. Gray?" s

ractical tone. "He has dark hair and a dark complexion.[P

good lo

ecide for yourselve

all we s

here to-nig

em very long," m

him already as you

from the lips of the

nxious to see him as I

an Count," said Miss

ou? Ho

t that. He turned o

hen he was n

earn a living in the only way[Pg 54] open to h

ed to dissipate the halo of romance which

to be in any business?" she as

t, and wished to spend a

This seemed to indicate t

seem to share in the in

. "They are light, frivolous; the

id enough," said Mrs.

er two hundred pounds.[Pg 55] There was a strong suspicion that he imbibed copious p

ng the remark in a low tone for my private hearing. "

im a prestige among us all. When he first came Mrs. Wyman tried her blandishments upon him, but with indifferent success. Not that the grizzled veteran was too old for

ery[Pg 56] homely?" asked Mrs. W

andsome," I answered.

he is a g

his learning-probably much more so

t noblemen to be learned," s

ast she began to sound M

apply for boa

ternoon about

of you? What

saw the sign

upposed he would

ing at a h

g

at hotel? Was it

will move here ear

room wil

he third floor-the

ink that room would

it not clea

but you must admit that it is

same size as t

nce looked into his room. It smells so strong of tobacco,

the Count

an imagine him with a dainty cigarette between his[Pg 58] clos

t is

uaintance. He will be reserved and silent with most

ished to sit bes

re friends, and he won't

yself removed to the opposite side of the table, but this I did not reg

eyes and hair. Mrs. Wyman had already established herself in confidenti

t is the Count

himself so. He has dep

Wyman has transferred

s to your

I don't

efore she is on with the new," quoted Mi

console me," I v

ith Mrs. Wyman in

eve that," I

he widow flutt

estate in the South of Italy. He has come here[Pg 60] to see the c

ed the Disagreeable Woman. But Mrs. Wyman had flu