The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1880-10-16

couldn't make head nor tail of it any
more than myself; only one thing was
clear to me, that must get home and
have something to eat. I was so faint
with excitement and hunger. We all
made up our minds that it was a mis-
take of some kind. We wen. carefully
through the catalogue, but there was
nothing there. Charley proposed ran
ming into Mrs. Smithers at No. 10 (she
sets up to be artistic), but Matilda said
no-not on any account-the thing was
to keep our own counsel. Matilda was
all for our going to the Duchess. She
said it didn't matter, mistake or no mis-
take. She had asked me to her house
IN my own proper person and under my
own proper name, and there was no i'm
position or forcing myself in on my
side. Charley said the same, and added
that at all events it would be fun.-so
we went. Charley burst out laughing
in the carriage he said his godfather's
wife would get fit when she heard that
we had been to Cranberry house. But
/ think ne got nervous when we were
actually inside. 1 know felt ready to
sink into the earth when we walked up
the grand staircase through lines of
powdered footmen. 1t seemed to me so
utterly absurd. The first person I saw
was Lord Snappington near the door
He seemed like an old friend; and
presently Colonel Beaulieu Joined
us. He seemed to know Charley
very well, although Charley says
they haven't done more than nod
these ten years; but he was very
friendly, and asked us to drive2down on
his coach to the Orleans next day. I
was very pleased, for Charley had been
wishing to go and--so had I.
After time little Winton came up in
a great fuss. and said the duchess was
asking for me, and that was to go into
the boudoir. didn't, of course, know
where that was, but Lord Snappington
gave NE his arm ard said he would take
me there. AS we walked along,
heard q great many people whispering
together: "There she is, on Lord Snap
pington's arm" l was dying to kno "
what it all meant, and | would have
asked Lord Snappington then and there,
only that Matilda's last words had been ::
Mind you ask no questions. Just take
everything as it comes" Still think !
would have said something, but just
then we got into tie boudoir, and there
was the same lady hsd seen in the
morning, only looking much grander,
and with the most lovely diamonds on
her bead. She had about twenty other
die and gentlemen with her, and she
was talking to q parsonage whom /
recognized at once, and my knees
knocked together with fright.
"Oh! here is Mrs. Redcar" cried tn
duche.s; ''now we have her we shall
all right"
TIE certain Person put;a glass to his
eye and looked at me:
Fond of swinging, Mrs. Redcarp"
much in the manner Charley would
have said it, And then every one began
to laugh. I laughed too, although l
had no idea why.
"Do you swing much?" the Person
age went on. still surveying me through
the glass earnestly.
| hadn't swung since | was child,
and I thought it very odd question,
but, before l had time to answer, the
duchess struck in.
my swinging party comes off on the
Goth, and I have given directions
to have rose-colored swing put up for
Mrs. Redcar."
There was general chorus of appro-
baton, and Ireally began to think | had
got among set of lunatics Just then
some music began in the next room,
and there was a move toward it. The
certain person fingered moment.
Duchess! I shall certainly come to
your swinging party on the Goth
for the pleasure of seeing Mrs. Redcar
i the rose-colored swing" He smiled
asantly at me as he spoke, did this
Great Man, and strolled lazily out Of
the boudoir.
When he was gone every one crowded
round me. I'm sure I made twenty &C
quaintances and had twenty invitations
in as many minutes.
All the rest of the evening was one
whirl of pleasure. Charley enjoyed it
quite as much as / did, and we both
agreed that after all good company is
nicer than and quite as cheap as, any
other.
In the middle OF the night Charley
awoke me by another lout. fit of laugh
ter. q can't help it, Beauty he said
"but / can't get over godfathtr's wifi
when she hears of our being on easy
terms with the best in the land"
Tt was most surprising. There wa:
certainly no doubt on that point.
| The next morning we had just dons
breakfast when, to our surprise, Char
ley's godfather's wife drove up. Ma
tilda had just time to give us word o
caution when she came in, all laces ant
ribbons, bangles and chains-so unlik
the duchess. She made straight at me
sslSv doar Dcho zaid and kiSspd mn n,