Part 25
Something in his face, his eyes, his voice--his whole self, I suppose--carried me off my feet into deep water. I just let myself go, I was so frightfully happy. I knew now that I had been in love with Brown for months and had been miserable and restless because he was--only Brown.
I heard myself saying: "I do forgive you."
"And love me--a little?"
"No; not a little."
Then he caught me in his arms, though at any moment someone might have passed the summer-house door and seen us. He didn't think of that, apparently, and neither did I at the time. I thought only of Brown--Brown--Brown. There was nobody in the world but Brown.
I don't think I precisely said in so many words that I would be engaged to him, though he may have taken that for granted in the end; and if I did give a wrong impression, I had no time to correct it, for it seemed that we had been talking about the future and such things no more than a minute, when Dad came sauntering by with Lady Brighthelmston.
They both looked at us as if they expected to hear something "extra special," as the newsboys say; and I gave a glance at Brown, or Jack, or whatever I ought to call him, which said, "If you dare!"
Having been forgiven once, I suppose he thought it would be wiser not to tempt Providence, so he held his peace, and we all talked about the weather and what a nice garden-party it was.
That is the reason why I still have the thing in my own hands. If I read this over, as I am now going to do, and disapprove of myself, it is not too late to change my mind.
P.S. I have read it. And I have thought things over.
Molly Randolph, if you hadn't forgiven Brown, you would have been a detestable little wretch, and you would never have forgiven _yourself_, for he is the best ever--except Dad.
It will be delicious to let myself love him as much as ever I like, at last--my Lightning Conductor!
THE END
FIFTH IMPRESSION of a humorous book with humorous illustrations.
Cheerful Americans
By CHARLES BATTELL LOOMIS.
With 24 Illustrations by FLORENCE SCOVEL SHINN, FANNY Y. CORY and others. 12mo, $1.25.
¶ Seventeen humorous tales, including three quaint automobile stories, and the "Americans Abroad" series, "The Man of Patty," "Too Much Boy," "The Men Who Swapped Languages," "Veritable Quidors," etc.
N. Y. TIMES SATURDAY REVIEW
says of one of the stories: "IT IS WORTHY OF FRANK STOCKTON." The rest of the notice praises the book.
N. Y. TRIBUNE:
"He is unaffectedly funny, and entertains us from beginning to end."
NATION:
"The mere name and the very cover are full of hope.... This small volume is a safe one to lend to a gambler, an invalid, a hypochondriac, or an old lady; more than safe for the normal man.... The book should fulfil a useful mission on rainy days, and on kerosene-steeped evenings in those spots of earth where men and women do congregate."
N. Y. COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER:
"His opera-bouffe portrayals of American types are distinctly enjoyable. Most of us have met them or their next of kin in real life.... The volume is abundantly illustrated, and the artists have admirably caught the spirit of the author's humor."
BOSTON TRANSCRIPT, 8-19-03:
"A new and very interesting collection.... Of the seventeen stories in the book there is scarcely one not marked by an originality of plot and an abundance of healthful humor.... He who reads the first story will read them all and wish for more."
CHICAGO TRIBUNE:
"The title is a stroke of genius. The book is sanely American and one of the cheeriest books published in a long time.... The humor is natural, the characters well drawn, and the style simple and unaffected.... The automobile stories, while distinctly original, suggest Stockton in their serious absurdity.... When Mr. Loomis has written another volume or two like it we will treat him like the other immortal and drop the Mr."
* * * * *
_Some thirty genial satires on subjects of universal interest._
The Thoughtless Thoughts of Carisabel
_By_ ISA CARRINGTON CABELL.
12mo, gilt top, $1.25 _net_ (by mail $1.37)
The topics include: "The New Man," "The Child," "One's Relatives," "The Telltale House," "Servants," "Dinner Parties," "Ignorance is Bliss," "Liking vs. Love," "Nervous Prostration," etc.
N. Y. TIMES SATURDAY REVIEW:
"That the discriminating ought to approve the book is unquestionable ... written with a delicacy of style and a happiness of expression that very few essayists of to-day possess ... peculiarly dainty work.... The moods in 'Carisabel's' book are as many as the moods of a woman, but always in comedy and pathos, there are the same tenderness and delicacy. The book is distinctly worth reading."
N. Y. TRIBUNE:
"New points of view presented in sprightly fashion."
N. Y. COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER:
"Clever conversation, bright, graceful dabs of opinion and epigram."
WASHINGTON STAR:
"Her wit is keen and pointed."
WASHINGTON POST:
"Extremely clever and thoroughly amusing."
PUBLIC OPINION:
"Witty, easily moving comment on the world and the follies thereof ... delightful, but at the same time thoroughly wise."
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL:
"The author has some exceedingly pertinent and illuminating things to say ... written in a vein of whimsical humor and gentle irony, as of one, who, looking on at the game of life, sees all the shams and insincerities, and yet finds it worth while."
BALTIMORE SUN:
"There is apparently no limit to Mrs. Cabell's versatility.... She has a keen perception of what is ridiculous or amusing ... originality, perfection of style, pungency of comment and depth of penetration."
* * * * *
"_One of the most important books on music that has ever been published._"--W. J. HENDERSON in the N. Y. TIMES.
FOURTH EDITION, with a new chapter by H. E. KREHBIEL, covering Richard Strauss, Cornelius, Goldmark, Kienzl, Humperdinck, Smetana, Dvorak, Charpentier, Elgar, etc.
LAVIGNAC'S
Music and Musicians
Translated by WILLIAM MARCHANT.
With additional chapters by HENRY E. KREHBIEL on Music in AMERICA and THE PRESENT STATE OF THE ART OF MUSIC
With 94 Illustrations and 510 examples in Musical Notation. 518 pp., 12mo, $1.75 net. By mail, $1.91.
¶ A brilliant, sympathetic and authoritative work covering musical sound, the voice, musical instruments, construction aesthetics and the history of music. A veritable musical cyclopedia, with some thousand topics in the index.
W. F. APTHORP In the Transcript:--
Admirably written in its way, capitally indexed, and of genuine value as a handy book of reference. It contains an immense amount of condensed information on almost every point connected with the art which it were well for the intelligent music-lover to know.... Mr. Marchant has done his hard task of translating exceedingly well.... Well worth buying and owning by all who are interested in musical knowledge.
W. J. HENDERSON in the N. Y. Times:--
A truly wonderful production; ... a long and exhaustive account of the manner of using the instruments of the orchestra, with some highly instructive remarks on coloring.... Harmony he treats not only very fully, but also in a new and intensely interesting way.... Counterpoint is discussed with great thoroughness.... It seems to have been his idea when he began to let no interesting topic escape.... The wonder is that the author has succeeded in making those parts of the book which ought naturally to be dry so readable.... A style which can be fairly described as fascinating.... It will serve as a general reference book for either the musician or the music-lover. It will save money in the purchase of a library by filling the places of several smaller books.... A complete directory of musical literature.... One of the most important books on music that have ever been published.
HENRY HOLT & COMPANY, _NEW YORK._ (viii, '03). _CHICAGO._