Wanted — A Matchmaker

To
Bond and Edith Thomas
as a Record of Our Friendship

Illustrations

Wanted: A Match-Maker

“You understand, Josie, that I wouldn’t for a moment wish Constanceto marry without being in love, but—”

Mrs. Durant hesitated long enough to convey the inference that she wasunfeminine enough to place a value on her own words, and then, the pause havingled to a change, or, at least, modification of what had almost found utterance,she continued, with a touch of petulance which suggested that the generalprinciple had in the mind of the speaker a special application, “It iscertainly a great pity that the modern girl should be sounimpressionable!”

“I understand and sympathise with you perfectly, dear,” consolinglyacceded Mrs. Ferguson. “And Constance has such advantages!”

Quite unnoting that her friend replied to her thought rather than to her words,Mrs. Durant responded at once eagerly, yet defensively: “That is it. Noone will deny that Muriel is quite Constance’s equal in mind, and, thoughperhaps I am not the one to say it, Doris surely excels her in looks.Don’t you think so, darling?” she added.

“Unquestionably,” agreed the friend, with much the quality of firmpromptness with which one would bolt a nauseous pill, or extrude an ailingoyster.

“Yet merely because Constance has been out so much longer, and thereforeis much more experienced, she self—she monopolises the attentions of themen; you know she does, Josie.”

“Absolutely,” once more concurred Mrs. Ferguson; and this time,though she spoke less quickly, her tone carried greater conviction. “Theyare—well—she—she undoubtedly—that is, shecontrives—somehow—to eclipse, or at least overshadow them.”

“Exactly. I don’t like to think that she manages—but whethershe does or not, the results are as bad as if she did; andthoughtlessness—if it is only that, which I can’t believe—isquite as blamable as—as more intentional scheming.”

“Then of course,” said Mrs. Ferguson, “every one knows abouther mother’s fortune—and men are so mercenary in these days.”

“Oh, Josie, I don’t like to speak of that myself, but it is such arelief to have you say it. That is the whole trouble. What sort of a chancehave my poor dears, who will inherit so little compared to her wealth, and thatnot till—ti

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