stian name.
"One must risk something; or rather, I should say, one must leave a
margin. If Hansombody calls, you may send out the brown sherry."

"Forgive me, cousin. I see you going about your daily business, calm
and collected, as though no shadow hung on us--"

"A man in my position has certain responsibilities, my dear Martha."

"Yes, yes; I admire you for it. Do not think that for one moment I
have failed in paying you that tribute. I often wish," pursued Miss
Marty, somewhat incoherently, "that I had been born a man. I trust
the aspiration is not unwomanly. I see you going about as if nothing
were happening or likely to happen, and me all the while half dead in
my bed, and hearing the clock strike and expecting it every moment.
As if the French weren't bad enough! And the Vicar may say what he
likes, but when I hear you ordering up the green-sealed Madeira I
know you're like me, and in your heart of hearts can't see much
difference between it and the end of the world, for all the brave
face you put on it. Oh, I dare say it's different when one happens
to be a man," wound up Miss Marty, "but what _I_ want to know is why
couldn't we be let alone and go on comfortably?"

The Major rose and flicked a crumb or two from the knees of his
pantaloons. For the moment he seemed about to answer her, but
thought better of it and left the room without speech, taking his
napkin with him.

To tell the truth, he had been near to giving way. In his heart he
echoed Miss Marty's protest; and it touched him with an accent of
reproach--faint indeed; an accent and no more--which yet he had
detected and understood. Was he not in some sort responsible?
Would the Millennium be imminent to-day--or, if imminent, would it be
wearing so momentous an aspect?--if at the last Mayor-choosing he had
modestly declined to be re-elected (for the fifth successive year),
and had stood aside in favour of some worthy but less eminent
citizen? Hansombody, for instance? Hansombody admired him, idolised
him, with a devotion almost canine. Yet Hansombody might be expected
to cherish hopes of the mayoral succession sooner or later, for one
brief year at any rate; and for a few moments after acceding for the
sixth time to the unanimous request of the burgesses, the Major had
almost fancied that Hansombody's feelings were hurt. Hansombody
would have made a competent mayor; provoking comparison, of course,
but certainly not provoking the jealo