The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-08-15

lauy, III was easy 10 guess Wnab was going
to happen next The Professor, from liv-
ing SO much alone, had got out of the habit
of REFRESHING his emotions; and when he
realized that this daring woman had de-
manded an introduction to Mrs Cecil he
gave vent to a loud, abrupt chnckle which
caused everybody to turn round and look
at him, and overwhelm him with conse-
quent confusion. Then he missed the
actual forlnality which had moved him to
mirth by anticipation but he recovered
himself in time to see that it had taken
place; that Mrs and Miss Cecil were look
ing grave and annoyed, and that Mrs. Cecil
had assumed the stony demeanor with
which she was wont to COW the presump-
tuous.
Mrs Cecil was not lady with whom it
was advisable to take liberties. A great
liberty had been taken with her now, and
while holding in reserve the punishment
of the chief offender, she made things very
uncomfortable for his accomplice. Having
bowed to Mrs. Harrington, she became alb
sorbed in some distant object of interest,
and failed to hear the bland remarks ad-
dressed to her by her new acquaintance
A deep silence had fallen upon the sur
rounding group. Mrs. Cecil was still seat
ed; the other lady was standing in front of
her chair, and the Professor, looking on
from the background, thought to himself
that, if he were iniMrs Harrington shoes,
he would run.
But it was Bob Annesley, and not Mrs
Harrington, who adopted that pusillani-
nous course, That intrepid woman re-
manned firm, and, with determined smile
upon her pale face, forced Mrs. Cecil to
speak to her.
II asked Mr.. Annesley to introduce me
to you" she was saying, "because [ think
we ought to know each other, being both
of us so intimate with him.
"Oh, I didn't know" replied Mrs. Cecil,
coldly. Perhaps she would have liked to
say that she was not so very intimate with
Mr.. Annesley, but when one has a daughter
whom one is naturally anxious to marry
well, one is apt to be debarred from indis-
criminate retorts. After pause she asked,
without removing her eyes from the distant
view, care you staying any time at Lich-
bury, Mrs.-er-?"
Harrington, replied the other; "well,
| don't quite know. 1t will depend good
deal upon the regiment. [ always like to
be where the Twenty are.
Greatly p exclaimed Mrs Cecil; and
the amount of astonishment, contempt and
disgust which she managed to condense
into that one word was quite an achieve
ment in its way.
ooh, yes,' Mrs Harrington went on,
cheerfully; Il follow the drum. My object
is to get as much fun out of life as possible,
and [ don't know any better way of doing
that than living in garrison town"
Violet said Mrs Cecil. "I think [ see
some vacant places on the other side of the
lawn. We will go over and sit there"
And so saying she arose and swept majes-
tically away, leaving Mrs. Harrington sur
rounded by number of silent persons who
appeared anxious to stare her out of coun-
tenance, while at the same time resolutely
ignoring her.
The poor woman's position was really
cruel one, and signs that she felt it to be
so were not wanting. She flushed for
moment, then turned pale again, and stood
not unlike a hunted animal, while those
merciless ladies enjoyed her discontinue.
The Professor, who knew what agony he
himself would have suffered under such
treatment, could not help being very sorry
for her. So sincere was his compassion,
and so strongly did he disapprove of the
base practice Of hitting those who are down,
that he was moved at last to do an unusu-
ally bold thing. He advanced abruptly to
the side of the unfortunate pariah, upset
ting chair on his passage, and said in
nervous, hesitating way, "What beautiful
afternoon, is it not?
Mrs. Harrington turned pair of aston
ished and rather angry eyes upon him.
Most likely, at the first moment, she took
this queer-looking cleric for an emissary of
the enemy; but glance at his face must
have reassured her, for a quick change of
expression came over her own, and the
Professor was rewarded by singularly
pleasant smile, and word or two spoken
without any of that harshness of intonation
which had been noticeable in Mrs Har-
rington's voice few minutes before. Hav-
ing thus entered his little protest against
bullying, he would gladly have retired
from so conspicuous position, but he was
a man who was wholly unable to extricate
himself from any position, conspicuous or
other, without help, and so he went on
conversing with Mrs, Harrington for mat
ter of five minutes, at the end of which
time he mentally qualified her as very
intelligent and agreeable person. 81 won
der, thought he, "why she chose to speak
in such an Objectionable manner just now"
And then with his unlucky habit of think
ing aloud, he said musingly, II suppose
she wanted to shock Mrs. Cecil Well, [
can't blame her,
Mrs. Harrington laughed. "You are
quite right, she observed; 'that was what
l wanted to do. But you ought to blame
me, for it was not at all worth while to
shock Mrs. Cecil, and | brought her rude
ness upon myself.
The Professor, in great distress, began
to atammer opt aR apology, which he was
uOb pcIuIlGtSu " HulsL' II Hcre lS uO ueeu
to beg my pardon" Mrs. Harrington in
terrupted; you only said what you thought,
and it is not often that one has the good
fortune to hear any one do that wish
you would go on. | should like to hear
what you think of me, for instance-or
rather; no; that would not be very interest
ing | should prefer hearing what you
think of Mrs Cecil
''The Cecils are old friends of mine, ;"
said the Professor, with slight account of
reproof
''Then you need not hesitate to say
what you think of them, for one does not
as a rule, think badly of ones friends
am interested in them on Mr.. Annesley's
account. He is great deal at their house
is he not?"
ayes, | believe SO, answered the Pro
fessor, stroking his chin pensively. A
strong desire to come to the point prompt
ed him to add, with some audacity, "Peo-
pie say that he is likely to become engaged
to Miss Cecil, but that may be only an idle
report
Mrs. Harrington's large black eyes had
a considerable store of latent fire in them
1t flashed out now upon her companion
with suddenness which made him start;
but in an instant she had recovered her