As Other Men Are

by Dornford Yates

Blanche was holding off her hand and regarding one of her rings with her head on one side. This was a trick she practised when she was ill at ease.

‘Before we opened the shambles.’

As though by accident, Titus had hit the nail square on the head. Yet it was not by accident, as both of them knew.

There are occupations other than commerce.

But Blanche had chosen commerce, because commerce not only can occupy, but may quite possibly enrich.

The woman of the world believed in apparel—its purchase, setting and display, and cared for little else.

More money meant more clothes.

But the purchase alone of apparel was nothing worth. Clothes were meant to be worn. An occupation which promoted the acquisition of clothes but precluded their display was inconvenient. . . .

So the two sat still in their counting-house—the one regarding the other, and the other regarding her ring.

There was no sign of summer.