The Point of View

knew many of the people who came to the luncheons and rehearsals, from their letters, and now she judged of them face to face. She had b

Mabel Cawber-she discovered a few with titles and positions wh

tom, to find out why-and from what families they had sprung-and obtained some satisfaction in the confirmation of her theory of

d Greek goddesses, she truly admired-they must have been at one time l

repose of manner when I a

t she felt. A human, faulty, strong woman, incapable of meanness or anything which could lower the flag of he

divine right of kings and of Sarah Lady Garribardine! She had not been a thirteenth century Baron's daughte

ms, cultivating pronunciation, polishing her critical faculties. She was perfectly conscious that she had often employed homely phrases in the past, and had

ature of man in her three days with Lord Algy. He was her first step-these women were her second. Lady Garribar

e beginning of the week. The poor young-old lady's rheumatism was very painful, and she remained in her room ha

escritoire near, having fini

if you can continue those i

herine

rine hardly noticed them, but presently her attent

gton, she has written to Beatrice this morning-she is quite

eaux vivants-but not in these that I am

. Delemar protested. "She is really a very good sort, and loo

e. It is not the woman I am down on; there is just such another at Blissington, she helps me with the bazaars and the school treats, her husband is a local brewer, and we are capital

r voice a little. It was a subject upon which she felt so deeply, that it

ical morality.-Such morality is a question of temperament and geography and custom-but I am profoundly concerned to endeavour to keep up some semblance of dignity in the aristocracy

ge smiled as he

her fancies for professional gamesters of all sorts for friends, and her total disregard of tradition at Da

personal feelings have ceased to count. She has, so to speak, accepted the responsibility of guarding the safety of an order, just as a sentry is responsible when he is on duty. He would be shot in war ti

possible husband

cruel," piped

o by the board, but while we pretend there is still an aristocracy in England we, the members of it, should defend it. Dulcie Dashington and her ways and her photographs in the papers, and her vulgarity, and the flaunting of her unsa

e such lots of odd people in society who do unheard-of things; it is these boy

r Americans, they are often very pretty and so clever that they seldom disgrace their new station; they are like converts to Rome, more zealous than the born papists. The only evil which can lie at their door is that they have too much money, and have given false values to e

e appeared to have any convictions or enthusiasm, they seemed to her to be a company of drifters, so little energy appeared to be shown by any of them. They were unpunctual and unpractical, but they were amusing and deliciously happy-g

ew who truly fulfilled Katherine Bush's ideas of the meaning of the word "lady" stood out like stars. But with all these flaws, as a collectio

I do wonder how they would all behave if some cataclysm happened again, like the French Revolut

acter was a rather bitterly humorous story for Gerard Strobridge's ears. She had been trying on the dress when a note had

r C

dress, and from the back it will hide the fact that your legs are very slightly bowed. Your charming face w

onately

Garrib

be the faintest substratum of truth in the accusation. The rest of the limbs were not so perfect as her tiny ankles. It would not be safe to risk criticism. So the costume was altered an

nless she is in love with you-then she glories in obedience-but a modern wife can only be controlled either on the principle of th

ttle discouragement. "I wonder, Seraphim, what is worth while? Striving for

ar, when you talk like that, that on

y digestion. I was thirty-five l

re, Katherine Bush read "The Letters of Lad

respects since these hundred and

nd a large sum of money was secured for

wn to Blissington and have a family party. Her three grandchildren (her daughter, Lady Mereton, was far away, the bored wife of a Colonial Governor), Gerard Strobridge and perhaps Lady Beatrice and the two old cousins with a young niece of theirs, and a stra

en any one except Her Ladyship. But one morning about ten days before they were to go down into Blankshire, Lady Garribardine informed her secr

onth ago, that he has asked me to lend you to him to-day for this business, and I have consented. He will lunch here, s

elf an evening frock-you must dine with us on Christmas Day and perhaps you had not

ould not analyse her emotions. She hated presents, and yet she was gratif

simply done my duty-but I will endeavour to buy somethin

little on one side-she understood what the blush had

e of the auctioneer parentage. I must talk to her when we get

e said

while you are out, pay these two bills for me, and take a little walk-you have be

as too ornate for the daytime, and she thought now in rather bad taste, and her morning ones were too dowdy. This was a great occasion and one which she had been waiting for. She was to go home late on this Friday to stay

Mabel and a few other friends on Friday night, and Fred has given us a lot of love

ve her hair waved. She had been given the evening off and it was known that she was going home. She would consult Glad

r, when the ondulation was complete, that it had turned her into almost a beauty. The broad waves fell back from the parting and showed the admirable planting of her brow and the Greek setting of her magnetic eyes. She allowed no elaboration of fashion, but had her ample tresses bo

to the polish of her nails-she wished her feet were smaller, but they were well

ith a very white, smooth face-extraordinary eyes under level, dark brows, and a big red mouth, and hair of silvery fairness t

approaching the time when she herself-most severe of all critics-might consider herself to be one. She was nearly as excited as on that afternoon when she had left Livingstone and Devereux's to go on a three days' honeymoon with Lord Algy. She made herself eat

a bag full of papers and

and a half-you must not keep her, as she is going home to-night-then come up to my sitting-roo

ly to get something out for her work, so she hoped Her Ladyship

ment came when she sat down at the typing machine, and looked st

ish me to begi

swept over him. What had happened? Was he dreaming? Was this beaut