William Dean Howells

A stranger was a guest at Halson's and was better known to Minver than to the rest of our little group. He lighted a cigar and heaved a sigh of fond reminiscence and looked round for sympathy. The...

The sunset struck the leafless trees to the westward and I tried to recall personalities. Then I saw a man throwing stones into the water and I thought of an ex-recruit. Tedham hesitated, and I...

One of the family chose deliberately to stay at home, but the eagerness with which all the passengers rise as soon as the locomotive begins to slow is inspiring. The excursionists fall into great...

The Ewberts came to live in Hilbrook shortly after Hilbrook University was established, and from the first she complained that the Rixonites were cold. Ewbert went to see Hilbrook, who lived alone...

Florindo and Lindora had come to the end of another winter in town. Lindora protested that the society dinner was an unlovely rite, and that young people didn't think about their appearance. The...

Blennerhassett was a generous victim of a cold and selfish man's ambition. He built a mansion which became the wonder of the West, but Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel and worshipped...

Minver's brother took down a painting from the bookshelf and studied it, then contemplated it on the back. He kept talking, and wished me happy, and fended off my gratitude. Minver's brother went...

After the event, my mind dealt with the poor man in helpless conjecture, and I ceased to notice him. I lost myself in my work with a kind of humid interest in the psychological inquiry of a...

We first met Glendenning on the Canadian boat, but Mrs. March clutched my arm and bade me not speak a word. The older of these ladies was a tall, handsome matron, and she accepted my chair in the...

I do not like walking for walking's sake, but sometimes I go on a pedestrian tour through the brick-yards towards the Irish settlement on the north. A woman standing upright beside another woman...

Over coffee in the Turkish room, Minver censored our several foibles and liked to have Rulledge approach Wanhope from this side. Rulledge suggested that there are two kinds of presentiments, the...

A resident asked if Mr. Hapford lived on the street, but the writer could only repeat that there was no Mr. Hapford living on that street. Jonathan Tinker told the story of his hard life to the...