The Dull Miss Archinard

ierre Charron. It was just five when he got there, and already almost dark. There were four flights to be ascended before one reached the Archinards' apartment; four ste

er wondered rather whether Wilson's wages were ever paid, and thought it more probable that a mistaken fidelity attached him to his master. In view of year-

ed appreciatively the Copenhagen vases filled with white flowers; he could find time for appreciation as he passed to Mrs. Archinard's sofa, for no one else was in the room, a fact of which he was immediately and disappointedly aware. Mrs. Archinard was really improved. He

ine told us this morning about the rencontre. I was expecting you, as you see. Ten years! It seems impossible, really impossible!" Still holding his hand,

little table by the sof

merald ring, on the "Dialogues," which was uppermost. "Sit down, Mr. Odd; no, on this chair. The light falls on your face so. Yes, your books are to me among the most exquisite art productions of our age. Pater is more étincellant-a style to

cious of being

. How few things one finds to care about! Things crumble so, once touched, do they not? Everything crumbles." Mrs. Archinard sighed, and, as Pe

m proud of my girl, Mr. Odd, very, very proud. Did you not find her quite distinctive? Quite significant? I always think of Katherine as significant, many facetted, meanin

t applicable. She i

woman nowadays is called charming. The daintily distinctive term is flung at

iversion from looming boredom. Katherine seemed to go in for a regal simplicity in dress. Her gown was again of velvet, a deep amethyst color. The high collar and the long sleeves that came over her white hands in points were edged with a narrow line of

o have you in our little diggings. You are li

ightful condensation of ever

oak!" laughed Katherine; "do

d deal of Gallic genius

you are appreciative." Katherine smiled so gayly, and looked so charmingly in the amethyst v

! The cook is French, otherwise our staff is shrunken, but of the same elements. One doesn't mind having no servants in a little box like this. Yes, mamma, I have p

a moment there was a rather uncomfortable silence. Odd felt a

her desultory fashion for some time. Mrs. Archinard's presence was damping, and even Katherine's

aimed Katherine; "

, and Peter, with a quickness of combination that surprised himself, surmised that Hilda was out alone. Had she become emancipated? Bohemian?

iend had it made for her after her own model and drawings. Yes, Hilda goes in for decorat

utline and the delicate bas-relief"-he bent his head to look more closely-"exquisite." And he

l rang at fully half-past six, that he mig

, and Odd heard a murmured colloquy in the entrance. He was conscious of feeling excited, and

claimed, with an assumption of exasperation tha

nd Odd, with that same strange acuteness of perception with which he seemed dowered this afternoon, felt that Hi

no and began to play a sad aria from one of Schumann's Sonatas that sighed and pled and sobbed. She played very well, with the same

, the meeting, as the most exciting things in life are. Peter ha

ravity he remembered in the child. Odd took the other hand too and stared at her.

y in a certain lack of expression, for they looked straight into his. Carried along by that first impulse of exc

Odd! considering your first meeting and your last parting, you have a right

Hilda's hands. The little flush that had come to her cheeks

e asked; "I beg your pardon, but i

h, some little embarrassment even, in the girl, considering the parting from the child. But Hilda did not show any warmth, neither did she seem at all embarrassed, and Odd felt rather as one does when an unnece

for me," she said, bending towards he

rd smiled acidly, and Hilda, Odd thought, did look a little embarrassed now. He had adjusted himself to the reality of the present, and was able to study

a very short skirt, and Hilda's legs were very long. She had walked, then. His own paternal solicitude struck him as amusing, and rather touc

giving him an almost frightened glance. How unchanged the little face, though the cloud of her hair no longer framed it. Hilda's hair was as smooth as her sister's, only it was brushed stra

"not particularly. I walked home, y

instance. She is the most persistently, consistently energetic person I ever knew." Katherine paused pleasantly

d, "and after mud and rain that is

glance; his eyes were humorously kind

is hard-boiled by this time"-she laid her hand on the tea

it, Katherine, it is

ff?" asked O

n't dine till eigh

then, Hilda?" Hilda loo

no. How could

xious to get rid of an old friend." Odd, with some de

reat deal of you i

umberer of the earth, unable to suffice to oneself, far less to others. With my failing eyesight I simply cannot read by lamplight,

that Odd was perforce obliged, for very pi

o not know what that is. To lie in the gray d

ng that his character of old friend was being rather impos

Katherine, in her pleasant, even voice. She was preparing s

I never asked it of you. You are really occupied as a girl should be. At all events you fulfil your social duties. You see that people come to see me. As I cannot go

Katherine's voice was gently playful. Hilda had not said

a girl with any regard for her mother's wishes can walk about the streets

ecause I am going to the Bois to-morrow morning, and alone for once." Katheri

ely. And you," he looked

lda, with a troubled l

an't," laughed

irritating, and Odd had sympathy for parental claims and wishes, especially concerning the advisability of a beautiful girl walking in the streets at ni

ted papa's "luck." "I have only been once to Monte Carlo, and I won such a lot. Only imagine how forty pounds turned my head. I revelled in hats and gloves for

here at ten, then?

s she carried the tea and cake to he

of you! I didn't realiz

d Katherine in a low, gentle voice. P

o invented that teapot," he said to Hilda. "One must work hard t

by this time realized the futility of an attempt to draw out the unresponsive artist, for she seated herself between Odd and the sofa, thus protecting Hilda from Mrs. Archinard's severities and Odd from the ineffectual necessity for talking to Hilda. Odd thought that were Katherine and Mrs. Archinard not there he migh

d a certain dumbly admiring smile. As he sat near her, he could see that the little black dress was very shabby. He could not have associated Hilda with real untidiness, and indeed the dress with its white li

again; he hoped that his persistency

come to-morrow. May I

defence in Hilda's smile-"but perhaps some other da

repeated itself in Odd's mind as he walked down the Rue Pierre Charron. Po