AND TO HIS SISTER, MY DEAR AUNT MARY,
IN MEMORY OF
THEIR GOOD FRIEND AND NURSE,
E. B.
OBIT 3 MARCH, 1872, ÆT. 83.
J. H. E.
PREFACE
An apology is a sorry Preface to any book, however insignificant, and yet I am anxious to apologise for the title of this little tale. The story grew after the title had been (hastily) given, and so many other incidents gathered round the incident of the purchase of the flat iron as to make it no longer important enough to appear upon the title page. It would, however, be dishonest to change the name of a tale which is reprinted from a Magazine; and I can only apologise for an appearance of affectation in it which was not intended.