Mrs. Day's Daughters

Larg

pper without trifle, tipsy-cake, and syllabub, in those days, as of finishing the evening without Sir Roger. Dancing had begun at seven-thirty. The lady at the piano

fessional musicians, but was twisted and shaken and thumped on hand

se, always; above all, noise made by himself. He thought no entertainment really successful at which you could hear yourself speak. He

from polka, or schottische, or galop, paused at his side. "A dance at your

k it over his great head with its shock of sand-coloured and grey hair; making,

h and rattle of the tambourine was only fitfully heard. Perceiving which, Deleah Day, younger daughter of the house, a slight, dark-haired, dark-eyed girl of sixteen, le

year since I was able to toddle you have

n all to witness that he was about to make an exhibition of himself for the pleasure of his tyrant-his little Deleah. Then, turning, with his hands on the shoulders of the young man before him, he was racing down the room to join hands with the laughing Deleah at the end of

by right hand, by left, by both hands; must dance to bow, dance to caper with the opposite couple, back to back. And William Day, who had loved dancing till he grew too

is chest, panting, struggling for breath with which to bid his guests good-

t beautifully! Every sin

y, and you shall alw

ld have felt himself falling behind himself on this fes

our parties," Deleah declared to her

the most," said Bessie. "

imes with Reggie,

er employed. You wanted to danc

im-twice. And in the grand chain he lifted me off my feet. He's most

d petite like her sister, but plump and fair and somewhat heavily built. "And you're t

a teeny bit came off to start with; Tom Marston caught his toe in it, and went, galloping the whole

must wear the same frock at th

ight-look! Only a new net skirt over

evening frock more than me. So come! I shall have blue again. Blue tarlatan wi

d you in that wreath

tell you, if he did! You

nd don't

as fast as I can. Why aren't

I'm waiting for mama. I'v

s, do tell! I always

the floor, looked at her sister. "It's something about Reggie," she declared with eager i

business, Deda; an

I can't. It's so tangly. I'm just goin

n't brush your hair. I shall

wn, and flung herself on her knees by the side of her bed, and

ium height, middle-aged, as women allowed themselves to be frankly, fifty years ago. She wore a handsome dress

ing in a dusky mass of waves and curls and tangles upon her back. Deleah was hurrying conscientiously through the

demanded, with an air of importance. "Not here

ends. Make us all good and bring us safe to heaven at last. Amen

epped back, closing the door b

a to know. She's

don't like to he

r open, to reveal the culprit in her white nightgown on the other side of it.

why, when nice, interesting things happen, I shoul

proving mother to be a good girl, and to go quietly to sleep. What mother could be angry with D

noccupied room, hard by, upon the la

Mrs. Day held, but there was light enough to show the blushes on Bessie's y

being engag

arniture of white tulle and forget-me-nots, rose and fell. "What two pretty daughters

, and what

oso one, you know-and the room was so full, and other couples were rushing down upon us-

, Bessie. I suppose there was not a girl he

now that, mama. S

ot say so

ot always want exa

the matter any forwarder than it was

suppose s

ggie Forcus consider

atch every word in that galop. If he did

thing about spe

ut I s

id it,

did not seem to wi

s

yet, you

s

deeply in the dusky paleness of her well-featured face, dwelt consideringly upon her daught

y, I'm afraid, Bessie," she

l. "I thought I'd

nly, my

at we ought

o, Be

e does not speak to papa, tha

ng head. "That would not be the s

ht you would know. Mothers have to

Bessie, usuall

ish to. If you must know, mama

, Bes

be done. You ought to do something-or

quivered, tears showed in her pale blue eyes

are both tired. We will sleep on it, Bessie. Go to

the landing, pausing at the door of Bernard, her second-born, coming between Be

, mo

hts

f hour

oking,

se not.

duties and responsibilities of the evening, stood long to look upon the sleeping face of the boy. His dark hair, allowed, through mother's pride in its beauty, to grow longer than was fitting for a boy, curled damply about his brow, his small, dark, delicately aquiline features we

age!" She smiled as she sighed, thinking of Bessie and her love affair, about which she had many doubts; of Bernard, who, in spite of prayers and chidings, would smoke in bed, and had once set fire to his bedclothes; of Deleah,

rls, then dragged her rich, voluminous draperies to her own room,

wondered? She lit the candles branching from the long glass and standing before it seriously debated the point with herself. Walking away from the glass, her head turned over her shoulder, she examined the back effect; walked to meet herself, gravely doubtful still; gathered the

u startled me, William!

u must have

-it was more prevalent perhaps at that period than this-

o have my evening dr

glass. What does it matter at your time of life how your dr

s she had lit, and began docilely to u

ery well to-night,

Champagne-c

h. The Barkers at their party

g well. What's a few pounds more h

nd, Wi

year. When the

hink Bessie lo

le Deleah was the

nly. You never have

as all

fair and sweet. Her nec

if Reggie Forcus

t he! No

irls should not have as good luck as other peo

r head at any such nonsense. Francis Forcus will no more allow his brother to marry yo

or child-think

to be an ass then

r disturbing thoughts of Bessie a

raight, tomorrow; and they so late to bed! The drawing-room carpet to put down again, and all the furniture to

down is what women like. I

re both the girls are married, and off our hands! I'm sur

you, i

liam? I don't know that I have s

on't have any worse troubles than the

ing of her master, made the memorable pronouncement that he was "Apples abroad and crabs at home." This speech, being interpreted, meant that the noisy, boisterous

elieve he was asleep, but was too irritable and restless to lie so for long. He turned about on his pillow, cau

said. "I have not closed my

own to think her predilection to indulge in slumber when she went to bed was a failing to be apologised for and hidden, if possible. She was

Forcus," the father said. "Of course, if there were, by chanc

last, William. I have always, of course

ing is, perhaps I had b

s abo

Oh, no, William! I

ime. If I want to rest on my oars you're badgering me to be up and doing. If I begin to see it's

should not go

er, who is dependent on him for the present as if he were his son, is go

u. At present he has not said a word, excep

ome to facts. Is there or is there

says t

on? Is young Forcus, who is always hanging about

ainly paid h

engaged

erself engaged. But

t you tell Bessie. I want facts to go upon

ot wish you to

wish," William snapped at her; and then tu