The Portland daily press., 1879-04-05

IL udl6 IaCJ CAV hW ~
Mrs. M. 1 suppose it's not the thing for
man in yonr position to turn author.
D. don't think / ever did hear OF one of
our lot writing books. But that don't much
matter. 1 should like to. take a line or
Il took a course of waters once at HON.
burg or Kissington or somewhere, but they
came to an end like other things.
Mrs. NJ. Lord Dawlish, are'you Joking.
Mrs. M. Then be serious-take up sub
ject, set to work, produce your panphlet-at
least a pamphlet. 1t might grow into a
book.
D. Heaven forbid 1 could not do it.
Mrs. M. Whv not?
d. Writing book is so Internally public.
should be talked about.
Mrs. M. How dreadful! The owl who is
modest withal, and shrinks away from noto-
riely. remains at home until sunset!
D. You called me squirrel before. Are
you going through all the geological what
d'e-call-'ems?
Mrs. M. Perhaps even l shall be talked
about before long.
d. should not wonder if you were.
Mrs. M. Yes, even /, humble individual
set up my studio.
D.. Your what?
Mrs. M. My studio. Yes, I've quite made
up my mind. There are many worse paint
eIs in Florence than myself. mean to be a
real painter and no longer play with color.
D. And sell your pictures?
Mrs. NJ. For the largest possible prices.
d. Is not that an odd sort of thing for a
lady?
Mrs. M. No. We have changed all that.
Many women paint nowadays.
how nd
Mrs. M. I believe that you are making
jokes this morning.
d. / don't think so. don't like jokes !;
they are very fatiguing. It's Johns fault.
Mrs. M. What's Johns fault?
d. No man likes to have another man
crammed down his throat-unless he's a con-
founded cannibal.
Mrs. M. Very well. will refrain from
examining anybody down your throat. But
won't let yoa off. 1 feel that have a mis-
sion.
D. Good heavens!
Mrs. M. l have the mission to reform
D. Please don't do it.
Mrs. M. / must. Why don't you do your
proper work? Why not 60 back to England
ana take care of your property?
ID. Because my agent takes care of it so
much better than 1 could. inherited my
place and can't get rid of it, But luckily,
land can't follow me about. That is why 1
came abroad.
Mrs. M. Without the dog.
D. He stays with the land. He likes it.
He bates travelling.
Mrs. M. So would you if you Travelled in a
dog-box.
D. wish you would not talk about me.
am so tired of myself.
Mrs. M. But you interest me.
d. Thank you. That is gratifying. Don t
let us pursue the subject further.
Mrs. M. must. It's my mission. I pic
tnre the pleasures of an English country life.
You build cottages; you drain fields; you
carry fannels to the old women.
ID. No; could not do that; don't think
could carry flannel to an old woman.
Mrs. M. So much for duties. Then for
amusement. Are you fond of shooting?
d. Pheasants are all so much alike. I
gave up shooting when my sister took to it /!
Mrs. M. Your sister!
D. She is keen sportsman-awfully
keen. / went out with her once. l feel them
sometimes in my back when it's cod wealth
er.
Mrs. M. You like hunting better? In
this country they snoot the fox.
n. Do they9 That must be curious.
wonder if could bring myself to try that. 1
almost think that
Mrs. M. Go home and hunt.
D. have given up hunting. Rather
rough on Teddie, don't you think?
Mrs. M. Who is Teddie?
d. Don't you know Teddie?
Mrs. M. Is he the dog?
D. No; he is my brother, 1 thought that
everybody knew Teddie. Teddie knows
everybody. Teddie likes me to hunt. He is
always bothering me to buy horses-with
tricks. Or to 60 by excursion trains; or to
shoot lions sn Abyssnia. He is an awfally
ambitious fellow, Teddy. Don't you think
we ought to change the subject?
Mrs. M. Not yet. l have not done my
duty yet. Politics Oh for political infu-
ence! Oh, for power! Why, you must be-
OF course you are a-thingummY whats-his
name.
D. Very likely, if you say so.
Mrs M. An hereditary legislator. Think
of that. Think of your influence in the coun-
try; of the power you might WELD. Go in
for politics.
d. Well, you know I-Iinherited my pol
itics with my place, and 1 can't get rid of
them. But Teddie does them for me. He
was always rather muff, Teddie was; and
SO they put him into politics.
Mrs. M. Are there muffs in your family !?
But don't interrupt me. l must have the
last word. Anything else 1 will give up, but
the last word-never. In your position you
must sway something. If you won't sway
the country, sway the county;if you won't
sway the county, sway vestry, work.
house, something or anything. Only do
something. You would be a great deal hap
pier, and-I don't know why 1 should be
afraid to say-a great deal better, if you
would only do something.
D. Yeu forget that am delicate. The
doctors say an delicate, and that is why 1
come abroad. do wish you would change
the subject. 1t is delicate subject, you
know.
Mrs. M. Again! You have only one mall
d. No, no, no! All the doctors.
Mrs. M. Quacks!
ID. As you please. But have not the
rude health of some strong-minded women.
Mrs. M. Nor the rude manners OF some
weak-minded men. But beg your pardon ;
, won't be rude.
D. Was 1 rude? I am awfully sorry. l
beg your pardon. But am SO tired Of N.Y.
self.
Mrs M. Then woodwork and be cured
Do something-anything A stitch in time
saves nine.
D. Oh, if you come to proverbs-Look
before you leap.
Mrs. M. Procrastination is the thief of
time.
d. More haste less speed. If one does
nothing. at least one does no harm.
Mrs. M. Nor does stuffed poodle.
D. Another beast! have been squir-
rel and an owl And after all I did not come
here to talk about myself nor poodles.
Mrs. M, Did you come to speak of the
weather?
d. wanted to speak about you.
Mrs. M. About me! Here's turning of
the tables.
D. May I?
Mrs. M. Ifyou have energy for so lively a
topic.
D. May speak plainly, as an old friendp
Mrs. M. As month-old friend. Speak
plainly by all means. I've passion for
plain speaking.
d. It's an nncommonly disagreeabe sub.
ject.
: Mrs. M. Thank you. You were going to
talk about me.
D. don't mean that; of course not. 1t
does not matter whether talk about you or
not. But there are other people here who
talk about you.
Mrs. M. Talk about me? What do they
say?
D. They say things I don't like; so I
fhouubf that