Although best known for her children’s stories, Edith Nesbit has written several short stories for adults, including "Acting for the Best" in the collection titled In Homespun (1896). As a rather sinister twist on the literary and social tradition of sense and sensibility first introduced a century before, Nesbit tells the story of two cousins representing two very different character traits. With Jane focusing on the practical sides of love and Mattie losing herself in sentiment, Nesbit very ably combines these traits with a moral code befitting each woman.