moving more briskly, and looking much brighter
than usual. Being questioned, Mr. Karnegie (who had cast the eye of
a landlord on the black box in the passage) announced that one "Mrs.
Graham" had just arrived, and was then and there to be booked as
inhabiting Room Number Seventeen. Being informed (with considerable
asperity of tone and manner) that this answer failed to account for
the interest which appeared to have been inspired in him by a total
stranger, Mr. Karnegie came to the point, and confessed that "Mrs.
Graham" was one of the sweetest-looking women he had seen for many a
long day, and that he feared she was very seriously out of health.

Upon that reply the eyes of Mrs. Karnegie developed in size, and the
color of Mrs. Karnegie deepened in tint. She got up from her chair and
said that it might be just as well if she personally superintended the
installation of "Mrs. Graham" in her room, and personally satisfied
herself that "Mrs. Graham" was a fit inmate to be received at the
Sheep's Head Hotel. Mr. Karnegie thereupon did what he always did--he
agreed with his wife.

Mrs. Karnegie was absent for some little time. On her return her eyes
had a certain tigerish cast in them when they rested on Mr. Karnegie.
She ordered tea and some light refreshment to be taken to Number
Seventeen. This done--without any visible provocation to account for the
remark--she turned upon her husband, and said, "Mr. Karnegie you are
a fool." Mr. Karnegie asked, "Why, my dear?" Mrs. Karnegie snapped
her fingers, and said, "_That_ for her good looks! You don't know a
good-looking woman when you see her." Mr. Karnegie agreed with his wife.

Nothing more was said until the waiter appeared at the bar with
his tray. Mrs. Karnegie, having first waived the tray off, without
instituting her customary investigation, sat down suddenly with a thump,
and said to her husband (who had not uttered a word in the interval),
"Don't talk to Me about her being out of health! _That_ for her health!
It's trouble on her mind." Mr. Karnegie said, "Is it now?" Mrs. Karnegie
replied, "When I have said, It is, I consider myself insulted if another
person says, Is it?" Mr. Karnegie agreed with his wife.

There was another interval. Mrs. Karnegie added up a bill, with a
face of disgust. Mr. Karnegie looked at her with a face of wonder. Mrs.
Karnegie suddenly asked him why he wasted his looks on _her_, when he
would have "Mrs. Graham" to look at before long. M