The Making of a Soul

nation on her face, and retreating to the little white-panelled room kn

the rosy-faced housemaid, who had already fallen in love with her young

ked up from the paper on which s

s suffering under one of her usual attacks of bronchiti

lly ill? Had she be

. Mrs. Blades often had these attacks, and they knew just what to do; but she

d housekeeper, for all her respectful ways, resented the arrival of a mistress of whom, for some reason, she did not appro

us to her marriage she was sufficiently loyal to keep her doubts to herself; and Martha the cook, Kate the serious parl

ce Kate to assist Toni in her preparation for the afternoon's vi

early train from town, and won't have time for much lunch." Even the unsophisticated Toni knew better than to ment

n, and waited to see what Mrs. Rose

a made for ..." Toni blushed, but went on bravely "... for our

s shrimp savoury for Sunday lunch? And yo

order some. You get them by the pint-or is it the pound?" said Toni,

and in any case she would give t

-what else, Maggie?

n for some brilliant idea; and finally sugges

biously. "You mean a blanc-mange or a cre

tress always had a shape when company was coming to tea. But-suddenly her rosy

Toni gave the order forthwith for a cream

t at half-past seven. That gives us time to go on t

uced a somewhat crumpled piece of paper. "She t

ver the paper, and

ack. "Yes, it will do beautifully, and I'm sure Miss Gibbs will like Mart

t, their faces quite solemn with the effort of

e ... well, Maggie, what

ma'am, th

get me the scissors and a basket, and then you

om the idea of giving orders was still almost lud

a short flight of stairs apart from the main staircase, and boasted a large casement window, bui

rs into a kind of gilded snow. A punt passed slowly with two occupants, one a girl in a white frock, lying lazily on a heap of blue-green cushions, her unc

y, so completely satisfied, that she wished all other girls to be as happy as she was; and although the two in the pu

she been able to indulge her passionate love for flowers; and to the girl who had been wont to regard sixpence spent on a branch of golden mimosa, or a handful of the big pink carnations which

hen, just as the lunch gong sounded, she rested from her labours

e lighted up. Big blue bowls held masses of roses of every describable hue, whose fragrance scented all the house; and every

ed over her lunch in good spirits. Just as she

e? You see-we ought to have a table, I think

e idea of a feast of shrimps in the charming,

d put a pretty lace cloth on the table, and th

eved sigh. "You and Maggie are really treas

r pretty mistress, was not ill-pleased to inform Toni that the bronchial attack from which she

girl; and Kate, although she had lived in "smart" houses, and knew that shrimps and blanc-mange

perienced in the ways of the world, was quite aware of the element of awe in Toni's love for her husband-an element of which Toni herself was as yet wholly unsuspicious. "And I've no doubt this young lady as i

arrived; and was shown into the drawi

r of her surroundings; and not even the consciousness of her new linen f

e man threw open the drawing-room door and ushered her in, Fanny unconsciously moderated

tily from her low chair and ran to meet her cousin, w

s Gibbs affectionately. "I'd have come to meet you

ing her embrace. "You were a dear to send it, Toni

elessly. "But how are you, Fan? A

schief again, though. She and some of the girls from her school played truant t'other day and went to see a County cricket-match. You kn

an it! What d

ad with tramping for miles; but next day she got a jolly good

hapless cricket enthusiast. "After all, Fan, you a

nished for it, too! I can reme

ught to be s

ty. "Cricket, indeed! What do girls want with cricket!

that no sympathy was to be looke

" Fanny, regaining some of her usual

ht you wouldn't mind, Fan. I want to show

ful room with frank admiration. "I thought the man must be going

e go over the house before tea or after? It's ve

, but of course we don't get off at once, and to-day everything went wrong! At the last minute I upset a box of ribbons, and the spiteful thin

ly to have lost sympathy with the grievances of those who work. "I wish

an't afford to leave the shop. You see, I must have a few clothes before I marry ... by

" Toni stifled a sigh at the thought of those long hours spent in shops. "You see I didn't really know what to get, so O

ng her cousin critically. "Blue serge always look

and they're cool." Toni looked at the clock. "But come upst

d; and went into fresh rapture

toilet-table and began to examine it. "And the

n gave th

briskly. "What a lovely long glass, too

the glass so long th

a's ready and I'm dying for

disclosing a much curled and waved coiffure, and together the cousins ran d

laced in the centre a tall jar of lilies, while here and there she had found room for small silver bowls of pink roses. The silver te

s. True, the bread and butter was of wafer-like thinness, there were hot cakes of the crispest, finest vari

ity; and further down, almost hidden in fact by the flowery centrepiece, was a glass dis

e usual tiny sandwiches which Martha sent up when she and Owen were alone. Then she remembered, gratefully, that Fa

mped by the sight of the silver tray, ros

eclare! Well, I thought you'd have been m

always did like shrimps-and why shouldn't I have them if I want

e seat indicated she leaned forward to ex

d no mistake! That cloth is simply lovel

a cup of tea. "There are lots of things like that in

re happily eating and talking, Fanny asking innumerable questions

Toni ju

must see him, Fan-he's a darlin

ed in the plainest dog-language why she had been so slow in answering his summons. When she had apologized and received his forgiveness,

rew dignity to the winds and begged, shamelessly, for further morsels; which being denied hi

Toni clapped her hands and called out words of encouragement at the top of her voice, when a loud whirring sound on the gravel outside made

nce was

, Fan! Visitor

ed Fanny, hastily dropping the bit of cake she held and

. "I never said I wasn't at home-a

see what would happen; and in the sudden hush they heard the

send the visitors away. The next instant she realized that such a cou

ni heard a gentle, cultured voi

become a machine, hesitated as though he would fain deny his mistress to these invader

n, which sounds proceeded in the direction of the drawing-room; and with an agonized sign to her

the servant with cards; and these Andrews silently pres

ymond--" She broke off with a sigh of relief. "Why, that's

ned to

the drawing-r

, ma

mmon sense came to her rescue. "I will com

eavouring to make herself tidy. "I'm such a sight, playing with

rews, who threw open the door for her with a compassionate air, and then retired to

like a veritable schoolgirl in her blouse and short skirt, the oldest of the

d you at home. This is my niece, Miss Lynn, who is

, grey-eyed girl who approached at the sound of her name;

sed to see you-but I'm af

oing a little work to-day, for a ch

Anstey, who accepted it with a smile, while Olive Lynn sank down on

which won Toni's impressionable heart. "But I heard you had only j

live some distance away, don't you? I think my husband po

you'll come over and see me pretty often." She gave the invitation with a pleasant note of

derly woman who, in spite of her aristocratic bearing, was so delightfully kindly. "I

poke quite unconsciously, but something in her words aro

ea to afternoon visitors; and these people had motored eight miles

pread for Fanny. The delicacies which had been prepared for her cousin took on a very uncouth appearance, a

ions. She was so lost in thought that she let Mrs. Anstey's remark go unanswered; and Barry, lo

so without delay, thereby saving the situation; but to Toni's mind the fact that tea was ready in the room across the hall quite precluded the possibility of having a

not understanding its cause, tried g

night, didn't I? We were in a canoe

problem, answered rather vaguely. "We-we

ve smiled. "We often do that-tak

there was no way out of this dilemma save a frank acceptance o

said abruptly. "Will you ... will you come and have

ot day and the roads were dusty, and in a house like Greenriver one nee

be very refreshing-I'm sure Oli

the girl, laughing, "and motoring does m

, feeling cold with nervousness, towards the door. "

ll to the dining-room. Andrews was hovering about; and as he saw his mistress le

order, was sitting rather apprehensively in her place; and as the door opened to

e relationship between her pretty, shy hostess and this florid, rather overdressed young woman; but conventi

and he shook hands so nicely, making a remark about Jock

live taking a chair by Fanny's side, while Mrs. Anstey sat next to

th tea, losing her first nervousness as she did so; and for a momen

mp of sugar, when Jock, who had been sitting quietly beside his mistress, suddenly rose

him; and there, on the gravel outside, stood two ladies,

her a quizzical look. "It never rains but it pours! Shall I ..

Jock was obliged to content himself with putting his paws on the

st; and vanished from sight in the direction of the front door; which was shortly opened

Toni earlier in the afternoon. At any rate, whatever the excuse, he made no pretence of showing the new-comers into the drawing-room, but opened the dining-r

test notion who her visitors were; and for a second they stared helplessly at one another, while Jock,

ustered up courage to shake hand

me to welcome Mrs. Rose, I suppose. My dear"-to Toni-"Lady Martin

ly. "And this fine weather tempted us to walk, alth

r daughter and presented her to Toni, who received an instant impression of size, teeth and v

oni did, with the help of Barry, who appeared to be on fairly friendly terms wi

ressed in a friendly tone by Miss Lynn, who felt sorry for the girl, so obviously ill-at-ease; and in retur

r before, hesitated, casting a look at Barry at the same moment; but he was engage

ng her guests eat a good tea, Fanny eagerly piled her neighbour's plate with shrimps;

shrimps which Fanny, pleased with her success, was just pushing across to Miss Martin. For a second her ladysh

r-shellfish alone. I understand there is always

erately offensive, her manner so disagreeable, that Toni felt like a chidden schoolgirl; and again the enor

fe, had seen the colour sweep into her face, and had determined that the Martins, mother and daught

de up for in arrogance; and Lady Martin had early determined that if she wished to become a power in the neighbourhood she must assert herself on every occasion. Also, she had intende

her mind accurately, and immediately ranged

s. Rose? And you never

d drew the dish towards him, resolved t

id Toni lamely. "But ... please do

y Martin, waving haughtily aside the dish Barry offered h

as he spoke. "They are delicious with bread and butter. Olive, you've

g the look of appeal which Barry's l

know-but still-if you'll prepare me one o

ence. There, too, was Miss Lynn, niece to an earl, doing likewise, being assisted in the mysteries of divorcing the creatures from their shells by the blowsy, florid young woman beside her, with whom she was soon on excellent terms. And there, also, was

cold looks and biting speeches made no impression on anyone-for even Fanny was

ce of Toni's as though she heard nothing, L

eir cups untouched-"we must tear ourselves away. We promised to look in at

h social demand, Lady Martin advanced upon he

have seen you. I am always at h

hake; after which the two ladies took what was intended to be a gushing f

ment later, they swept by the window, their high-heeled shoes

the creeps. Mrs. Rose, is it too late to beg another cu

rather a trembling hand, and Mrs. Anstey sa

ly on various unimportant topics until Toni grew more like herself; and when

eturn the visit as soon as possible; and then she and Fanny accompanie

girl turned and waved a kindly hand as the car bega

ation was sincere. "And that blue bonnet

reamily, gazing after the car. "I don't wonder Miss Lyn

Fanny rather viciously. "And as for that may

m as Fanny turned towards the dining-room. "I don't want to see th

ankly. "But nobody seemed to care! Mr. Raymon

as though freeing her shoulders from an incubus. "We'll go on

she had lost. She took her cousin on the river, returning in time to see the old house before the summer darkne

lock when she went upstairs to bed. Something was troubling her, too; and as she walked slowly down the long gallery, lighted

ude she was and what an idiot I felt? Must

ng an answer to her question, which held inde

to give her; and with a sigh Toni passe