The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-04-05

thing, by the way. This necessitated my
cavaliers STOPPING down to recover pos
session of it, thereby delaying all the
couples behind us for a moment OF
two. | was beginning badly. We sank
into our appointed places, and as the
the soup was being handed round, Mr. Hope
addressed few ordinary remarks to me.
Then l began to realize how shy, how stupid
person | was The only words my foolish
tongue seemed capable of forming were
Eyes and "No" Connected words had
left me for an indefinite period l felt my
conversational shortcomings so acutely that
it was some little while before | was able
to look at my neighbor, except furtively
and timidly. He was tall, | knew; that
fact had made itself manifest as we walked
arm-in-arm. had also received sort of
impression that he was good-looking At
last, when able to really look at him, L
found that Mr.. Ramsay account, so far as
it went, was true one. The young man
was undoubtedly handsome His eyes
the feature woman first looks at-were
good gray, l decided, with dark lashes.
His face was pale, and bore look of re-
fnement. His forehead was high-not too
Highland his chin was large, and gave him
the appearance of possessing considerable
force of character Above all, his nose
was straight, and his hands well shapen.
Twenty-eight, l should have guessed his
age. Altogether very creditable young
man. Fate had been kind in selecting this
companion for me, if only l could find
something to talk something so
gifted creature as he was reported to be
would not be bored with. Alas, for me,
the conversation field seemed to have be-
come suddenly barren of flowers of speech
NOT even bud was left Yet amongst
people with whom | am at home | had
never yet been accused of taciturnity.
For some short time the lady on the
other side of him saved me. She appeared
to know him, and complimented him on the
success of an article in one of the reviews,
which she attributed to him. He thanked
her for her praise spoke few words on
general subjects; then, as | suppose, in
duty bound, turned to me and recommended
conversation. In five minutes | positively
hated myself and Mr.. Vincent Hope! 1t
may be kindness to bring ones intellect
down to the level of the listener; | call it
conceit! If, in spite of my elaborate new
dress, he could not help seeing 1 was but
schoolgirl, was there any reason why he
should so plainly show me he saw it Was
there any reason why he should quite change
the manner of his discourse as he changed
his listener-sh should talk to me in way he
evidently thought suited to my calibre
If he meant it kindly, what right had he
to think | should esteem it kindness? l
daresay deserved pothipgmore; but who
was he to judge of my deserts? 1t rlfIed
my vanity and destroyed any self-confdence
l was beginning to feel. The worst of it
was, he meant no rudeness. He did not
even pretend to patronize me; he simply
chose to talk upon subjects which he was
pleased to think were well within my lin
tied range. 1t was Notifying | twisted
up my dinner napkin under the table, as a
sort of vent to my vexation. Soon grew
desperate. I would show this man l was
not, the inane, empty-headed schoolgirl he
fancied me, or would perish in the attempt.
My huency of speech came back as sud
denly as it left me. On my own account
1 began to talk-of topics about which I
knew nothing-of places | had never yis-
ited-of people had dever seen-and of
books had never read. He seemed amused
at my new departure, and, l fattered my
SELF tried to lead me on to talk. So talk
l did, and thought no evil. 1t was not un-
til I had once or twice gone completely out
of my depth, right over head and shoulders,
and was compelled to founder back as best
could, that l fancied the wretched man
was laughing at me-not openly, of course;
his manner was politeness itself. Yet |
had an unpleasant suspicion that more than
once l had made myself an idiot in his eyes.
l positively detest people who have the
misfortune to see me at a disadvantage
SO, when I rose with the rest of the women
and left the table, felt that it would have
been satisfaction to have given Mr.. Vim
cent Hopes broad shoulders Parthian
stab with dessert fork. | had not been
success, and, what was worse, | knew it
1t was dull work in the drawing-room.
The women were strangers to me, and
talked about their own and their friends
affairs, in none of which had the slightest
interest. 1t was very hot, too. l peeped
out of the window, and saw the garden
looking most tempting in the light of a
lovely autumnal moon. How delightful it
would be if l could have one walk round
it. | doubted whether it would be quite
right for young lady to walk about the
garden alone apd by moonlight but the
temptation was very great. After all, [
have always found it much easier and often
pleasanter to yield to little temptations of
this kind than to resist them, so soon
gave in. Even at the risk of cold or a
scolding, would have one, just one turn
in the soft September night. slipped
from the room, covered my head and Shout
ders with a shawl, and stole through the
library window, which opened to the
ground.
The change from the close atmosphere
of Mr.. Ramseys drawing-room was, as
predicted it would be, simply delicious.
The clear sky, the full moon, and the
bright stars which had tempted me out,
made me feel quite poetical. I forgot all
my little annoyances in the beauty of the
night; became quite cheerful and happy.
The one turn round the garden, which |
had pledged myself not to exceed, grew to a
great many; yet | was loath to leave the
enchanting scene. But duty must not be
altogether neglected. With sigh l turned
for the last time, and began to retrace my
steps to the house. To my horror, as [
neared it l saw the French easements of
the dining-room open, saw the food of
brilliant liz ht which poured out partially
eclipsed, as one dark body after another
passed through the aperture. Irealized in
a moment the frightful position in which
l was PLACED, The men were coming out
to get a breath of fresh air and to smoke
a cigarette before entering the drawing
room. What could l do? l was certain
to be seen. By the light of the wonderful