The Third Miss Symons

lar about Minna. She was capable, and clear-headed, and rather good-looking, and could dress well on a little money. She was not much of a talker, but what she said was to the point. On these

with a pretty complexion. Three years of parties had begun to tell on her own, which was of special delicacy. She and Henrietta had never grown to like one another, and

lines about the mouth. All that one can notice is a disappointed, somewhat peevish look in the eyes. Such was Henrietta. The fact that she had not been much wanted or appreciated hitherto began to show now she was eighteen. She was either shy and silent, or talked with too much positiveness for fear she sh

rever she was he wanted to be beside her. It was an exquisitely happy month. He was a commonplace young man, but what did that matter? There was nothing in Henrietta to attract anyone very superior. And perhaps she loved him all the more because he was not soaring high above her, like all her previous divinities, but walking side by side with her. Yes, she loved him; by the time he had asked her for the third dance she loved him. She did not think much of his proposing, of their m

e probably would have been, but they would have been as happy as the majority of married couples; she would have been happier, f

e would have liked to have asked her not to come into the room when he called, but she was too shy; there had never been any intimacy between the sisters. Mrs. Sy

next time the young man came, he found in the drawing-room not merely a very much prettier Miss Symons, that in itself was not of much consequence, but a Mis

though she fought hard,

e Humphreys to-morro

rner, perhaps under the seat, or one could always run behind. I crushed-see, what did I crush?-a little teeny-t

rtners. The young man thought how pretty this sisterly teasing was on

t larger than yours,

h protest too much, do

st seat in the carriage, so

e first time how

be at all interesting for Mr. Dockerell. I am ready to own anything yo

morrow night?" (It was Louie he looked at.) "She is staying with me

you," began

f things that two sisters can't sit in the same carriage. I hear you are a most alarmingly good archer, Mr. Dockerell, and

had made his offer and Louie had discovered that he was too dull a young man for her, he did not transfer his affections bac

ings, but her daughters, who on the whole were very ordinary young women, she did not understand. Perhaps Henrietta was not altogether ordinary, but after all it is not exceptional to want to be loved. Nor did Mrs. Symons care particularly for her daughters

, and then had been disappointed. Her mother in her distress was no more comfort than, I was going to say, the servants,

f much use. However Henrietta poured out her bitterness to her in a long letter, and Evelyn wrote back full of loving sentiment and sentimentality. Henrietta wrote a

the good chance which had been contrived for her. This was the view she presented to her husba

t up friendly small-talk about the neighbourhood. There was something so solid and comfortable about his face that she felt she must tell him. She wanted to lean on someone; she had not, she never had, any satisfaction, any pride in battling for herself. Yet she knew that William's face was deceptive; it would be much better not to

William, "very unlucky. I sho

was my own fault

Minna; yes, you mi

e hardly ever writes; besides, she never

plenty of dances and be jolly; you mustn't mope. If you can get Aunt Mercer to give

kind of you

in all the afternoon, it makes one so hipped. I shall take a turn and loo

But he was sorry for her; he took her to the play, a rousing farce, for he was one of those who naively consider that two hours of laughing can compensate for months of misery, and

proper confidant, they tell to all and sundry what ought never to be told to more than one. When, however, the overmastering desire for sympathy had passed, words cannot express her regret that she ha

nother after Mr. Dockerell's proposal. Louie had gone away for a month or s

na considered that the best balm would be her babies. So they might have been for people with a natural admiration for babies, but this Henrietta had not got. If Minna's children had been neglected she wou

that came the news that Louie was engaged to a most amiable and agreeable colonel. This made her more bitter, if it was possible to be more bitter, against Louie than before. Louie was not merely

nd disagreeable, as was apparen

of course I am older than you, and that is the sort of thing that spoils a girl's chances. Men don't like it. And your temper-even Arthur noticed it, and he is not

very sorry, very, very sorry. Of course I had no idea how you felt about him. He wasn't the sort of man one could take very seriously, at least that was what I thought. Anyhow I wouldn

conveyed, but she could not d

" said Henrietta; "I shall try to bel

uie afterwards, talking things over. But as a ma