It has been remarked (by a lady infinitely cleverer than the present author) how kindly disposed the world in general feels to young people who either die or marry. Imagine then the interest that surrounded Miss Wintertowne! No young lady ever had such advantages before: for she died upon the Tuesday, was raised to life in the early hours of Wednesday morning, and was married upon the Thursday; which some people thought too much excitement for one week.

There is nothing in the world so easy to explain as failure - it is, after all, what everybody does all the time.

An explorer cannot stay at home reading maps other men have made.

Ha!' said the tall man drily. 'He was in high luck. Rich old uncles who die are in shockingly short supply.

She wore a gown the color of storms, shadows, and rain and a necklace of broken promises and regrets.

How is a magician to exist without books? Let someone explain that to me. It is like asking a politician to achieve high office without the benefit of bribes or patronage.

Well, Henry, you can cease frowning at me. If I am a magician, I am a very indifferent one. Other adepts summon up fairy-spirits and long-dead kings. I appear to have conjured the spirit of a banker.