The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-06-02
CHAPTER V.
/ NTAf In v
MRS. TEMPLE PLAYS THE PART OF MRS

SOBER
Prendergast remained to be nodded, and
our strategist took care to have an interview
with him before the great event of his pro
posal came off. For this dialogue she as
sumed a specially grave, not to say pious, air,
as she now fully understood Prendergast's
habit of mind
at is a serious matter she said, in the
voice and face Of her new character Of Mrs
Sober. @Yes, marriage is serious matter
To this sentiment, Of which the force, like
that of many popular sermon, lay rather in
the delivery than in the matter, Prendergast
assented, and business began
sYou are going to propose to SophiaF she
said, in confidential tones; for, indeed, they
had chatted the affair over several times.
u am, with your permission
@VeTy wen. Are you above taking hint r
she paused here, for the most engaging smile
made up Of self-confidence, self-depreciation,
and coquettish consciousness that all the
charms Of her sex had not yet forsaken her
@are you above taking hint from a withered
old womanr
sYou must be going to take me to consult
some elderly friend Of yours7" he answered,
with successful raillery
"Capital, cspitall7 she cried, forgetting
Mrs. Sober, and clapping her hands. SOh
Pfendergast do wish you would be more
/ like that all the day round It becomes you
vastly o, 1 should make something of you
too-in timer
Grave Prendergast could stand this nc
longer He burst into laugh, which om
| little mother merrily echoed, until she agar
remembered that seriousness was her par
I to-day. Turning as solemn as Quakeress
she asked:
SBut, seriously, will you take hintF7
Seriously, from You win take as many
hints as l get.
"Well, then, remember this: Sophia is
| girl whose head is full Of the idea Of useful
ness and activity, and being elevated, ant
elevating Others, and-you can finish ths
sentence better than l. for you hear more Of
| that sort Of talk am not saying anything
| against all that In its way, and at prope
times, it is very well; but maintain, and al
ways have done, that it is not the thing
woman should live for. Just fancy, my deai
| Prendergast, what whole world full oi
scrious people would be- Serious people, an
| nobody elsel Really, believe you seriou
| people would want a few Of US sinners back b
tickle you littlel But this is not my business
| We must take Sophia as she Is She has no
grown up in the way 1 expected, but she is
good girl, and amiable- When shall I &c
back 70 my pointl Sophia, then, being s
full Of these notions Of service and aspiratio
and duty, and aH the rest, in proposing {
her you must fiddle on that string-I mean,
said Mrs Sober, Withdrawing this rathe
6ippant form Of speech, Hyou must let b
know that such Is your view Of life also
is, Is it notF
1T Is" Prendergast answered, divide
quite between sincerity and amusement at Il
singular little idol that chartered away befoI
him
SThen be careful you let Sophy know !
And, Prendergast, be careful. too, that 70
tell Sophy that you have work in life
suppose you have-and that she Is the wona
that can help you TO perform il Pressl
} yourself before Sophia IN that form, as mz
who has a work 10 do-such a work as s.
would approve Of; such a work a. she wou
do herself if she could Tel her she can gi
you strength, guidance and all that sort
thing. This Is the war such a girl must
r carried We none Of Us like to be thoug
{ mere dolls, dressed for your drawing room
! and, least Of all, do. girls like Sophia like
! Tell her you win 20 through the world lea
: ing on her, a. they do m pictures. half 81
porting, half reclining. Tell her that y
win draw inspiration from her eyes and fro
5 aer character, and then Sophia Is yours
7 Iwizh had been a man. just 70 teach Z
3; rest how to propose to usI7
r swell, Mrs. TemDle,T Prendergast said, I
r pressing his smiles with no small difficult
E there S a great deal in what You say Al
{ can assure you that whatever woman ps
] posed to, or thought should wish to prOpo
to. should mediate something Of the kind
!, IF you really mean il, she said, 1t v
5 come a great deal better Il always does
T aSurely you would not have me say wlaa,
s did not neanF
s zFudge, Prendergast, to put Il in that wa
In love making We are not understood
= mean what We say. No more than monzr
o on the stage IS understood % mean what
y SAYS when be promises 70 bestow kingdoms
le people (He has two rooms meanwhile. viii
: be means to keep to himselfl But in Z
% particular ease II you do mean II, Why,
y course. you vii say II with more enlphas
s Al, dear me- she added, resolved 70 els
r the impression Of her Hippancy. Il dares
If you are right. PFendergast, after all, and
= wrong. Bot the world Is 50 pleasant 9
u can't help loving f.
e. She sighed this out 20 naturally that Pr
T, dergast reds-ted that there Esust be good
{, fhis merry cd pagan after al. and he pleas
himself with the thought that before she
parted from human life she might rise fe
higher mood and confess her fosIies So {
little mother slowed admirable tact for
Il gave the finishing touch = her pupil, 6
"a when bidding him go0d-by, she asked.
Of -Now. Prsndergast. win you say exac
be what I have told your
~ He answered.
& Il VIII exactly