He chuckled and thumped himself vigorously, as though to assure himself of the thoroughness of his recuperation. Seven o’clock found him on the street walking vigorously in the direction of the Park. He knew that there was no chance of meeting Jane Loring at this hour[256] of the morning, but he chose the west side that he might not even see the marble mass where she was sleeping, for the memory of what had happened there yesterday rankled like an angry wound.

"Yes, I’ve heard it,” he said grimly.


"Nina, do stop talking nonsense,” he put in impatiently. "I’m not going to sit here placidly and let them tell this lie.”

"Well,”—Nina leaned back in her chair and tilted[259] her head sideways—"what are you going to do about it?”

"I’ll make them answer to me—personally. It was my fault. I ought to have walked home, I suppose.”

"But you didn’t—that’s the rub. They won’t answer to you personally anyway, , and he might do it—er—unpleasantly.”

"I’ll thrash him—I’ll break his——”

"No, you won’t. It wouldn’t do the least bit of good, and besides it would make matters worse if he thrashed you. There’s only one thing left for you to do, my friend.”

"What?”

"Marry me!”

Phil Gallatin stopped pacing the floor and faced her, frowning.

"You still insist on that joke?”

"I do. And it’s no joke. It seems to be the least thing that you can do, under the circumstances.”

"Oh, is it?”

"Of course. You wouldn’t leave things as they are, would you? Think of my shrinking susceptibilities, the atrocious significance of your negligence. Really, Phil, I don’t see how you can refuse me!”

Gallatin laughed. He understood her now.

"I’m immensely flattered. I’ll marry you with great pleasure——”

"Oh, thanks.”

"If I ever decide to marry any one.”

"Phil!”

She glanced past him out of the window, smiling. "And you’re not going to marry—any one?”

"No.”

"I was afraid you might be.” She rose and took up[260] her silver bric-a-brac which clanked cheerfully. She had learned what she came for.

Posted by: wangzi at 07:11 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 350 words, total size 3 kb.

Once you discover the magic of juicy thighs, you might not go back to breasts. Serve it with a kicked-up Caesar for a light meal.
Total Time: 0:40
Prep: 0:10
Level: Easy
Serves: 4
Ingredients

8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (2 1/2 lb.)
kosher salt
Black pepper
1/4 c. finely grated Parmesan (1 oz.), plus more for serving
3 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, chopped (2 tbsp.)
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. anchovy paste
6 c. arugula (5 oz.)
1 pt. grape tomatoes, halved

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F with a rack set on the highest level. Place chicken on a rimmed baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Cook chicken 25 to 30 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part registers 165 degrees F.
Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk Parmesan, lemon juice, oil, garlic, Worcestershire, and anchovy paste and season with salt and pepper. Add arugula and tomatoes and toss to combine. Serve with chicken and top with more Parmesan.

Posted by: wangzi at 07:38 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 183 words, total size 1 kb.

The dough will be greasier than your average cookie dough, thanks to the cookie butter and banana, but that also means they'll stay soft and chewy longer.
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 dozen
Serves: 24
Ingredients

1 c. cookie butter
1 egg
1 medium banana, mashed
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 c. flour
1/3 c. crushed Oreos, plus more for topping

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
In a large mixing bowl, combine cookie butter, egg, banana, baking soda and flour, mixing until combined. Fold in the crushed Oreos.
Use a melon baller to scoop 1/2-inch-sized balls (or form them with your hands). Place each one about an inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 8-9 minutes.

Posted by: wangzi at 03:59 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 122 words, total size 1 kb.

The significant inscription found on an old key "If I rest, I rust" would be an excellent motto for those who are afflicted with the slightest taint of idleness. Even the most industrious might adopt it with advantage to serve as a reminder that, if one allows his faculties to rest, like the iron in the unused key, they will soon show signs of rust and, ultimately, cannot do the work required of them.

Those who would attain the heights reached and kept by great men must keep their faculties polished by constant use, so that they may unlock the doors of knowledge, the gate that guard the entrances to the professions, to science, art, literature, agriculture --- every department of human endeavor.

Industry keeps bright the key that opens the treasury of achievement. If Hugh Miller, after toiling all day in a quarry, had devoted his evenings to rest and recreation, he would never have become a famous geologist. The celebrated mathematician, Edmund Stone, would never have published a mathematical dictionary, never have found the key to science of mathematics, if he had given his spare moments to idleness. Had the little Scotch lad, Ferguson, allowed the busy brain to go to sleep while he tended sheep on the hillside instead of calculating the position of the stars by a string of beads, he would never have become a famous astronomer

Labor vanquishes all --- not inconstant, spasmodic, or ill-directed labor, but faithful, unremitting, daily effort toward a well-directed purpose. Just as truly as eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, so is eternal industry the price of noble and enduring success

Posted by: wangzi at 02:58 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 275 words, total size 2 kb.