Meanwhile, in the Attic...

"Well," thought Sir Edgar, "Isobel has little enough to worry about, poor fool - she wasn't even awake for the worst of it."

Like It Is

I bet he does.

Meanwhile, at the Hunting Lodge

Sir Edgar paused for a moment, staring out into the rainy garden.

Still the Same Old Story

Oh, sister - been there, done that.  More than once.  Haven't we all?

Rumor Has It...

...that whatever it was that the Caldwells sounded like...

Why Don't You...

...take a moment on this day that is devoted to all things foolish, and join me for a little while?

An Auspicious Introduction

Bridget was at first surprised when Lady Fogminster insisted on holding the interview for the position of under-housekeeper in her boudoir.

Meanwhile, at a Fashionable Soirée...

Another fraught moment of the Gilded Age...

The Story Begins...

Oh, if this isn't the start of too many stories I know.  And so few of them end well.  I'm guessing you know one or two yourself...

Ladies First and Otherwise

Whatever their political opinions, the membership of the Ashtabula Literary Society thought Mrs. Roosevelt displayed admirable composure when she came to their monthly Book Night.

All Mod Cons

One Tuesday morning, Irene learned that she could refill her Miltown prescription over the telephone.

Meanwhile, in the Drawing Room

Lady Viola knew that she could neither forget nor forgive what she had just seen on the hearthrug.  The singular position adopted by her husband and the under footman was perplexing enough, but the presence of both her prize Airedale and her emerald choker was simply inexplicable.

Landmarks in Children's LIterature

In the second volume of this tremendously educational series, Jerry's Overdraft, Mr. Martinson of the greengrocer's there proves to be very generous to our hero, setting the scene for the epic third installment, Jerry Moves to Greenwich Village and Finds a Sugar Daddy.

Seasonal Leg Art: Backstory

She remembered how scared and excited she'd been on the bus.  Amazing to think it was just two years ago, and how far away Ashtabula seemed now.  It had taken her five days and six buses to get to Los Angeles, and every minute of that trip she knew, she just knew there was a place for her in one of those big studios.  Everybody back home said she was a shoo-in - who was prettier, or a better dancer?  She was nothing but wasted as a salesclerk at the Bon Ton Store, that's what everybody said.  "You go to California, Janie, and we just know they'll make you a star!"  Well, Central Casting seemed to think different, and except for those three days as Nightclub Extra in that June Haver picture and the Unwed Mothers two-reeler over at Educational that was probably just filler for a stag movie, things hadn't quite turned out.

She shifted on the itchy artificial grass and felt a trickle of sweat down the back of her neck inside the ears.  The stuffed rabbit smelled mildly of some long-ago child's throw-up and she hoped the chainsmoking perv behind the tripod would hurry up so she could get to lunch.  She was meeting her friend Irene from the first single girls' hotel she'd stayed at.  Now Irene (renamed Dolores) had a six-month contract at Republic and had already made four oaters.  And she was buying lunch, which was a good thing, because even if Mr. Cheesecake here came through with the twenty-five bucks he'd promised, all of that had to go Mrs. Dorillo for last month's rent.  She wondered what she'd answer if, as seemed all too likely, he'd go ahead and offer her twenty-five more to take her top off.  Not like it would be the first time...

Later, on the Dance Floor

As the years passed, it was decreasingly clear whether the widowed Lady Shufflehampton knew for certain if she was actually at a costume party or not.  Tonight, for example, she introduced her date to everyone as Sun Yat Sen, which is just silly; who here doesn't know he's Herman, the Tranquil Palms Retirement World's janitor?

Even so, I say that as long as those two kicky kids are having fun, let the music play...

Meanwhile, in 1909...

Having delivered his shocking confession, Lord Throckmottle fell silent.  Pulling on his meerschaum, Sir Antony Londerbaugh gazed up at the abashed aristocrat quizzically, appalled to think that his old school chum could have got up to such antics while off on the Continent.

Bertie fforbes-Hamilton, meanwhile, resolved to find the address of this Pensione Regina Vittoria post haste; it certainly sounded better fun than the dull hotel of his last stay in Firenze.  "Moroccan houseboys!" he marveled to himself, "Who would have dreamt they could think of such bully things to do with an ear trumpet?"

They're Heee-eeere!

 

"I can't believe she did it again this year!"'

"What - came two hours early or brought along Sheila from Accounts Receivable?"

"Both!"

"Well, what do you want me to do about it?  She's your Aunt Claudia - go and get them a glass of Cold Duck or there'll be hell to pay.  I've got to finish getting dressed."

Are There No Workhouses?

Christmas or no Christmas, Lady Shufflehampton has had it up to here with that dawdling, shillyshalling saleswoman.  Fifteen more seconds and she's going to kick her in the shin and remind her that Altman's isn't the only store in town with a Better Coats Department.  If that beezle doesn't finish writing up that new fox jacket this instant, there'll be no making her 3:15 at Elizabeth Arden...

Fashion Faux Paw

Don't you just hate it when you go to all the trouble of dressing up and somebody shows up wearing the same outfit?  Too provoking.

Sister Act

They tried to start a fan club.  Finally, their glamourous Cousin Nancye (who sang alto with her own trio) finally had the sense to pull the ringleader (Jolene, left) aside and tell her in no uncertain terms that they were never going to get anyone to sign up for something called "The McCancers."  She later thought she might have gone too far when she added that they really had to stop Sadie Jo (center) from making their stage costumes.

Not long thereafter, the girls took their own advice and headed for the Lights of Home.  For all I know, they're still there.  Well, except for Liddie (right) who later moved to Fresno to become a key-punch operator.