Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-08-29

tnaWlng as we got up little dance
(Which, with hypocrisy that deceived
nobody, we pretended to extemporize)
the same intense heat in the rooms, the
same jamming in the doorways, the
same forlorn groups in the corners,
groups that looked If they knew they
ought to be enjoying themselves and
were not.
And, when the novelty of the posi-
tion wore off, I did not find it very diff
ficult to play the part of host. So 1
tried to say a pleasant word to any
couple of whist tables for the elderly
people, and in fact worked hard gener-
ally at amusing everybody. My wife,
however, as the hours went on without
mishap, grew prouder and prouder of
her hired grandeur, and indeed, like
old Weller's Shepherd, "swelled wis
IDLY" in magnifcence of department
and manner. In my hearing alone she
told six different persons that "there
were forty-five invited f; but unfortun-
ately 80 many were engaged"
al think you ought rather to say
fortunately" replied that disaereeable
Mrs. Vyner, as my wife made this re-
mark to her. "My dear Mrs. Miller,
how could you get any more peopleinto
these rooms? And crowd is so very
unpleasant" she added, tanning her
self vigorously.
When I took Mrs. Vyner in to sup
per, she said, blandly, "I did not
know, Mr.. Miller-yes, champagne,
please-I never knew before that you
kept footman !" looking hard at one
of the upholsterer's mutes.
"Why, he is like Vyner's small ale
for very occasional use only" re-
piled, determined she should not have
all the sarcasms to herself, and knowing
she hated any reference to her hus-
bands business.
She took revenge, however, on
my wife, by saying to her soon after
ward across the table, elbow very nice
these whips are, Mrs. Miller l must
get you to give me the recipe" OF
course, the odious woman knew very
we'll that the creams, like everything
else, were furnished by the upholsterer
"who did for us ;" but she succeeded
in making my wife blush and feel very
uncomfortable for the time.
The dance was kept up with spirit till
four or five o'clock, and the young
people, at any rate, especially my
daughters Molly and Patty, enjoyed
this part of the business most thor
oughly. Toward the end, however,
Molly became rather sulky because
Fred danced so much with Miss Vyner;
and my wife was highly indignant at
Dick Wotherspoon's hanging about
Patty. Indeed, she would almost have
proceeded to open hostilities if I had
not stopped her; and, as it was, Woth
erspoon evidently guessed her motive
in always disturbing his combinations
with Patty, and left early.
When our guests were gone we were
soon in bed, from which we did not
rise till noon. Even then Patty was
very tired, and Molly had headache
due to Miss Vyner, suspected. I,
too, was disgusted with the hypocriti-
cal pretenses and the bother of the
whole thing. My wife alone was ra-
diant, and thought the party great
success, owing to her own admirable
management. She was sure, too, that
Kelly on leaving had thanked her, and
pressed her hand with cordiality most
unusual with him: and on this ground,
she told Molly to take courage, and all
would CONE right.
And her exultation was increased by
several of our guests who called in the
afternoon, and lisped the usual phrases
on such occasions. Delightful gath
ering." Enjoyed ourselves so much. )"
"Quite success"
When Mrs. Vyner called, however,
she threw little damp on my wife's
ardor. She pretended to praise-she
was always more malicious when she
did that.
"How very good of you to take all
this trouble-so unexpected, too !" she
said. "And how very we'll you did
manage, considering you were quite un-
accustomed to this sort of thing It
must have been a most formidable un-
dertaking, Tn sure. And I hope you,
Mr.. Miller, were not very much behind
hand with your work in consequence.
Generally could give Mrs. Vyner a
Roland for her Oliver but on the pres
ent occasion, my conscience sided so
much with her in her politely-veiled
sarcasms-I mean, thought them so
iust-that I really could only mutter
out some commonplace answer.
"Tm afraid you are little tired with
your exertions, Mrs. Miller; indeed,
they must have been IMMENSE" con-
tinued the merciless virago, seeing that
I was in no mode for reply. "But Tn
sure, it was very kind of you to try SO
hard to give us pleasant evening.
And as you are such very old friends, I
think 1 may tell you little secret, Just
to show you how much we are indebted
to you. All, / dare say you know what
it is. Fred Kelly proposed to Ellen
last night, and it is all arranged-so
kind of you, I'm sure, to give him the
opportunity. And we think it will be a
very nice match, don't you, Molly ?"
Poor Molly held out till Mrs. Vyner
was gone, when she made rush to her
own room, with tear in each eye. She
had scarcely left us when o double
knock announced the postman.
cit is from Wotherspoon," I said,
opening the letter. edo you know
think our new splendors, Jane, made
you seem little rude to him yesterday
"Ah, we'll if I am never rude to any
one of more consequence than Mr..
Wotherspoon, it will be no great mat
ter" she replied, contemptuously.
"But am grieved and vexed beyond
measure about this young Kelly. Ellen
Vyner, indeed |"
"Dear me !" said I, as glanced over
Wotherspoon's letter; "you'll like to
hear this, think, Jane" So I read it
to her.
"'DEAR MILLER Il am so sorry to
be obliged to leave without calling to
| L. j. L Il -