Democratic messenger., 1881-10-08
HI don't know. Was I, Nora?

| H.-Why are we walking up and down
like two tigers at the Zoo?
Ms it riddle, dear? will try to
guess it later-after breakfast.
FL. Breakfast =? Breakfast? Yes,
that reminds me !; it must be nearly
breakfast-t time.
N.-Not quite. Are you ready for
breakfast?
H.-Oh yes-I think so, if you are.
N.-You are sure it's not too early
for you?
H.-Not a bit. But you? Would
You like to have it now if it's ready?
NJ really think / should-if you
are quite sure that you would not like
it later.
HI don't think so.
n. [heroically Harry, shall I put
it off for half an hour?
Has you please, dear. He sinks
into chair.
Here is pause full of emotion.
N.-H breakfast is ready, it may be
spoiled by being kept; and then you
wouldn't like it. Shall I go and see if
it's ready?
H.-Perhaps you like it spoiled.
N.-What an idea At the door +
Oh, how delicious
Fl. as he joins her Isn't it good
Let me go and see if breakfasts ready.
He goes out.
| N.-He was an ornament of society.
know it. Shall 1 be so wickedly sell
fish as to deprive society of its most
brilliant ornament? The more l dote
on quiet life with Harry, and nobody
else, the more l hate outside people,
and dressing up, and dancing about;
the more l hate those odious picnics
with spiders-oh, how afraid am of
spider the more certain I am that it
is my duty to pretend to like them all,
the sake of society. Yes, Harry, you
shall go to picnic every day, if die
for it. I think l am dying. l feel
thin-very, very thin. l think I am
going to faint
Here Harry appears leaning in tn
doorway, pale and faint.
H.-Nora, the cook wants to speak to
you.
N.-Oh, Harry, is anything the mat
ter?
HI don't know.
She goes out; he sinks into chair. |
Ii could get something to eat, some
breakfast, l could face this picnic. /
would go cheerfully to picnic, even
| to picnic. How / used to long for
rest When I chose little girl in the
country, fancied sort of ballet life
all cream and roses, and jam, and ci-
gar under tree. with sheep about, and
and rest. 1t was like my abominable
selfishness. Nora has never had any
fun. OF course Nora would like to
have some fun. OF course Nora shall
have some fun; and I'll pretend to like it.
Fun Turning round and round in
crowd, and being kicked on the ankles
Eating lobster salad and ices at three
o'clock in the morning Talking to
girl about another girls eyes, and star
ing into hers Fun The treadmills
joke to it. And yet, all this and more
will 1 go through for the sake of my
little Nora-all except that eye business.
Nora shall taste the pleasures of So
ciety, and I'll pretend to enjoy them;
by George, I will enjoy them |
When his voice has sunk to the
depth of tragic gloom, Nora runs in.
N.-Breakfast is ready.
| H.-Ahl
They go away lovingly to breakfast.
After while Lady Roedale is shown in
by the footman.
FL. Jas he comes in Clara Lady
Roedale
Lady R.-Harry, as you horrid boys
say, how goes it?
H.-As we horrid boys say, it simply
walks in. And what on earth brings
you here?
Lady r. Reasons are tiresome. You
ought to say that you are glad.
Him awfully glad.
Lady R.-My doctor recommends the
society of young people. suppose you
know that am antediluvian, and ush-
cred the animals into the ark.
H.-How pleased Nora will be Come
and have some breakfast.
Lady R.-Thank you. breakfast in
the morning.
Him. Idon't.
Lady R.-You used to be an absurdly
early creature-up with the foolish lark.
H.-Ah, yes. But you see Nora likes
to breakfast at twelve, and so of course
Lady R-Of course you Oh, Harry,
this is profoundly interesting. Do you
do just what Nora likes in everything?
H.-Yes. You didn't think it of me.
did you? You thought all men were
selfish, didn't you? Don't you remem-
Der telling me that all the men you ever
knew-all your admirers, you know
were all selfish--dark and fair, fat and
thin, comic and gloomy, the whole lot
of email alike IN being selfish
Lady R.-Very likely.
III. Well? Look at me. Whatever
turns up. simply look at it in one way.
1 ask, What will Nora like? Then
pretend that what she likes is what L
like.
Lady Rim. You tell fibs?
H.-One must, you know.
Lady R.-Must one?
H.-Little unselfish sort OF fibs, you
know. l was in agony for two hours
before breakfast, and I enjoyed it. I
remembered where there was biscuit,
and Nora's internal little beast of dog
had eaten it-and enjoyed that !! Now
we are off to picnic-and mean to
enjoy that =!
Lady R.-My dear Harry, even you
must have passed the picnic age-ants
and indigestion. But of course you
don't mean to say that you are going off
to picnic when 1 have come to see
you?
H.-You must come too. You know