Annie Kilburn

l talked to her of the Social Union, and it seemed to be agreed that it was fully in train, though what was really in train was the entertainme

architecture, where conscious lines and insistent colours contributed to an effect of posing which she had never seen off the stage. But it was not a very large world, and after the young trees and hedges should have grown up and helped to hi

irst she ordered her to go out with her to see the place where they intended to have the theatricals: a pretty bit of natural boscage-white birches, pines, and oaks-faced by a stretch of smooth turf, where a youn

her with fans and vases; a long old flint-lock musket stretched across the panel above. Mr. Brandreth began to show things to Annie, and to tell how little they cost, as soon as the ladies entered. His mother's voice called from above, "Now, Percy, you stop till I get there!" and in a moment or two she appeared from behind a portière in one corner. Before she shook hands with the ladies, or allowed any kind of greeting, she pulled the portière aside, and made Annie admire the snug concealment of the staircase. Then she made her go upstairs and see the chambers, and the second-hand colonial bedsteads, and the andirons everywhere, and the old chests of drawers and their brasses; and she told her some story about each, and how Percy picked it up and had it repaired. When they came down, the so

andreth had lighted the fire on the hearth, though it was rather a warm day without, for the sake of the effect. Sh

we have a lovely litt

in its praise, but she shook

nbiassed opinion. Don't you spea

hitecture and furnishing, from each of which she seemed to acquire personal merit, and she insisted that Percy should show som

o stay to lunch with her. "You shall have a cup of tea out of a piece of real Satsuma," she said; but they resisted. "I don't believe," she added, apparently relieved b

e other time, mother,

Munger's opinion too. You know Miss

ought she had refused positively

re talking it over when you came, an

ccess," said Mrs. Munger, w

that it complicates on

reluctance, "and it always will; and of course it's particularly embarrassing in Rom

ect. Now I say that they might just incline their heads toward each other without actually, you know. But Percy is afraid that it won't do, especially in the parting scene on the balcony-so passio

s. Munger, wit

rassing point. We can't change the play, and so t

glance of impartiality. His mother also turned her eyes upon Annie. "Percy thought that you m

herself," said Annie dryly, after a moment

e wishes the play to be a success artistically; but if it's to succeed socially

etter. She's so outspoken you could have pu

Mr. Brandr

a way. Why, you can s

aid Mr. Brandreth, with a

me yet," she explained, when they were out of earshot, "but I saw she was simply killing you, and so I made the excus

is would not do after r

s'. They're some of our all-the-year-round people too." She opened the door without ringing, and let herself noisily in. "This is the way w

erval for a thorough study of the features of the room before the hostess came in, with the effect of coming in just as she was. She had naturally always made some change in her dress, and

st what we are. It's a neighbourhood where everybody's just adapted to everybody else. It's not a mere mush of concession, as Emerson s

ent of servants with her, and each was apparently giving herself in the summer to the unrealities that occupied her during the winter. Everywhere Annie had found the affectation of intellectual interests, and the assumption that these were the highest interests of life: there could be no doubt that culture was the ideal of South Hatboro', and seve

as yet it had not conformed itself to any ideal of duty. She too was idle and vapid, like the society of which her whole past had made he

en threshold as she was passing the corner on her way to the front door: "Mis'

s to come into the parlour and give her the note, with a respectful statem

n invitation to a family