The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-04-20
F0REG0NE CONCLUSIONS.

Imagine TO yOurSel1 the people one
meets in a place like this. Probably
we should find ourselves sitting next
to n of our own tradesmen."
az think it is rather amusing to see
a little of life" remarks Mrs. Sinclair.
az do not mind dining at a table
d'hote when 1 have man of my own on
each side of me-" says Pamela; "but
two women alone-it is not to be
thought of We should both have to
sit next to some one"
"But you need not talk to your
neighbor."
Naturally not. But the horror is
sure to pass me the salt; and, on the
strength of that, try to get into CONVEX
sation with me. He will say it's "a 'ot
day or a cold day, or the 'otel is very
full or very hempty or something
equally original. And though L should
sit upon him Immediately, it's unpleas-
ant to have to snub people, AID upsets
ones digestion"
"Let us try it for once" says Mrs.
Sinclair, persuasively. eve shall get
a much better, and a much cheaper
dinner than if we dine in our own room,
and it III meto watch the people,
but who on earth is to find an
appetite by six-thirty ?" objects Pamela,
raising her eyebrows with a dissatisfied
expression.
1--WE will go for a drive, and then
get a blow on the pier, and after that
we shall, 10 doubt, be quite rea ly for
an early dinner"
ooh, of course, if you make a point
of it! But | am sure it's a great mis-
take. And what do you suppose Lord
Nelson would think if he saw us there
or heard of our being there?"
"My dear child, | really don't see
why you should take it for granted
that we are the only decent people in
the hotel. 1t is quite on the cards that
other ladies and G ntlemen may want
sea air, an chose this place as being
quiet and healthy, and no. very far
from London"
Pamela does not answer in words,
but merely taps her parasol on the
floor in a manner suggestive of UNI
belief and irritation.
She is not an unamiable young lady
in fact. no one can lie more charm
ing, or take more pains to please, than
Miss Pamela Clifford, when she finds
herself in congenial company; but
British instincts are powerfully de-
veloped in her, she has a rooted mis-
trust of unknown travelling compan-
ions, and people to whom she has not
been Introduces; an utter disbelief in
anything cheap; with other little in
sular prejudices which a true BritOn
entertains, and is exceedingly proud of
entertaining. To her equals when she
is aware OF their equality she is
charming; to her interiors her manner
is simply perfect. AS her maid says,
"Though she looks rather 'aughty, she
is q most affable young lady"
Mrs. Sinclair betakeS herself to don
her walking attire, aud Pamela pulls
from her pocket a letter received that
morning, and reads over twice the fol-
lowing passage:
Melton thinks Of going down to
- in a day or two. L have talked
to him so much about you That he is
dying 10 make your acquaintance, and
is, l believe, quite prepared to fall head
over ears in love with you. Remem-
Der, my dear, twelve thousand a year
and a charming place in shire"
After reading this, Pamela's spirits
revive. She is an ambitious young
lady, and perfectly aware of the fact
that, at tw~enty-three years of age, it is
high time for "a woman to have settl ID
herself in life and taken up her
definite position in the world. She
has been the victim of II violent pas
sion, which ruined the three best years
of her life; her heart has been broken
and nearly r paired: it is like an cle.
gant Sevres vase VIII ch has been shat
tered AMI deity put together again; ii
looks as well, Dut i TO expected tt
hold anything. Love is Il worl a
whose mention first Il thrill of JOY, anc
later a spasm Of agony, has been wont
to vibrate through her frame; now il
only inspires contemptuous disbelief OF
smiling irony as an old tradition OF
superstition, IN the truth of which
some uneducated persons insist. Pam
elias unfortunate love had for year
prevented her from receiving the adj
vance of even the most eligible aspir
ants; now she looks back with tn
deepest regret to lost opportunities
and is firmly resolved to make up fo
her criminal waste of time. And life
as it is, is by no means agreeable t.
her. Mrs. Sinclair, her aunt, is a kim
and amiable lady, but a handsom
young woman of three-and-twent.
wants a different kind Of Il compan
ionship and quite another sort OF en-
tourage from that a middle-aged aun
can give. Just now Pamela, feelin!
the violent reaction of extreme dull
ness after the fast aad furious gazette
of the season (Which, by the way, sh
had declared bored her to death, an
she longed to get away FROM, i
prepared to view Lord Melton, hi
twelve thousand a year, and his plac
in shire with the greatest po5Sibl
favor. In a day or two!
Well. she must get through the il
tervening time-the horrible tabl
" L -. -LA ,,nr IDnn.n