Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-25

MISS Violet After ALL a small dance isn't bad
| Iun-when you can't have a large one
MIS- Arkwright. My dear child it is far better
| "hen you get to my age. Early hours 2ener-
! aiiy mean the concentrated essence of fun.
Every one knows that she m ust do or die Gin
uereila would not have flirted half 10 much with
tue prince If she hadn't known that she had to
| leave at twelve. And really. if you come to
think OF 1t, flirting before supper is far safer
than flirting after it. The lady is more sure Of
| her superiority. One never knows whether to
take the man au serieux afterward No. no.
my dear, late hours. IS you will find some day.
| means cosmetics and rouge.
Miss Blanche: Really, do YOU know, l rather
prefer Lent. There is church. for instance
which makes one feel all right somehow. what
ever one does; and men haven't got so many
engagement and haven't to be rushing off some
where. 1t is blessed relief to have nice relig-
iOus feelings
Mrs. Arkwright. Especially when one means
to pose as religieuse. Ell, Blanche? But do be
careful Of Mr.. Barford.
Miss Blanche. Why Mr.. Barford especially
Lend me hairpn, dear. will you?
Mrs. Arkwright Well. We will ask Lily Lily
dear, when you have got those tangles out of
your hair, will you tell us your candid opinion
about Barford?
Miss Lily. don't know Mr. Barford.
Omnes (Lduqhinq) O, saw that is good
Miss Lily. mean don't know Mr.. Barfory
nosc
Mrs. Arkwrfght. No, no. dear. of course not
But you used to. didn't you? And what did you
think of Barford then?
Miss Lily. He used to be rather high church
and always tasted on Wednesdays and Fridays
Miss Blanche. Well of course SO do we all.
declare don't eat anything at all on either day
at dinner l mean.
Miss Violet. Lord Seymour appeared to me
to have dined tonight, at all events He was
more silly than uSnal
Mrs. Arkwright. Yes. dinner does stamp
man with an exaggerated version of his own
character. You may not know him in the after
noon, but his true self appears in the evening.
ladies'; 30 let me warn you. Give me the pow
der-puff. please.
Miss Violet. Or else they try to propose dur
ing service.
Miss Blanche. In the Litany. don't they?
Miss Lily. .. no, surely during the sermon?
Mrs. Arkwright.+ Dear me, how old fashioned
must be! thought that most proposals of mar
rage took place during a valse! At any rate.
these little events usually occur when a man is
OF his balance and when the woman If she is
wise. preserves her own. Do brush nv hair,
that's darling; l am so tired.
Miss Mabel (Gtdt 10 Don't; please don't I
am sure was more off my balance, as you call
1t, than he was tonight.
Omnes. Mabel has had proposal
Mrs. Arkwrght. My dear child. If what you
say is true. you must have accepted him. How
very rash! And he hasn't got a penny to call his
own. Ralph Erskine. wasn't it!
Miss Mabel (ha!f crying) Yes. He was in
church Yesterday; and the choir sang so beau
tifufly, and felt SO good, and he looked at me
80 nicely-and-a
Mrs Arkwright Ah Lent has many things
to answer for! Why on earth do you go to
church if you are beginning to get fond of a
man! One feels ten times more in love with
him at church. because one has got less to do.
See him in the broad light of day and you can
Judge his character. or. rather. his means; but
o dear me. those half lights and those organ
tones and that dreary drone OF the preach her
they do all the mischief
Miss Violet. Why, one would think YOU had
never accepted anyone in your life!
Mrs. Arkwright Well. like Lily, I did once.
! must put curling papers in my hair tonight;
did you ever see such lanky locks? Yes. of
course accepted Mr.. Arkwright once; but I
was very young once. and like you. dear Mabel.
tres devote. And have had many-well, what
You would call advances since
Omnes. Mrs. Arkwright.
Mrs. Arkwright. Don't be shocked: I have
always known how to manage them, have al
ways kept my own balance. Dear me, l must
rouge. am afraid, tomorrow. That comes Of
LeDten dinners!
Miss Mabel. But you go to church, too, Mrs
Arkwright.
Mrs. Arkwright. OF course. of course! think
of old Mrs. Arkwright's feelings! But l wear
my rue with a difference. you know l almost
compose meditations in Observation-Disclosures ON
the toilet
OmneS. How shccking!
Mrs. Arkwright. All. it is all very well. nv
dears: but you forget I am an old woman and
things have lost their freshness with me- But l
must ring for my maid now
Miss Violet. Good night, dear; we shall all
be wise in time. dare say. What is there to-
morrow night 4?
Miss Blanche. o. Mrs. Coverings soiree, you
know.
Mrs. Arkwright Good night. dears Sweet
repose and don't dream; it spoils the complex
ion Blanche, remember what have told YOU
about Barford. And, Mabel my love- break it
off with Ralph Erskihe, won't you? Say your
father aud mother won't hear of it. Promise
me. Good mi ght.