The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-10-31


Neither Lady Fielding nor her daughter
looked surprised when Kemp delivered Hugh s
polite message and apologies. The former, in
! deed. appeared to be decidedly relieved, and it
/ was easy 10 see that Miss Daisy seldom permit
! ted herself any freedom of expression or utter
ance which she was not certain would receive
/ parental sanction. She was more than ever
like the picture now that her hat was removed,
! though her strangely fair hair was arranged
with more regard for the prevailing fashion
! than il had been when she sat for her portrait
She WAS very silent, aud Kemp thought the
dinner the slowest aud longest he had ever
tried 10 sic through. There was another man
present with his wifei but they had evidently
only been asked for the look of the thing and
seemed too much in awe of their hostess to
talk.
However after dinner Lady Fielding called
her daughter TO her side and bRde her " take
Mr.. Kemp round the conservatory" and,
though Kemp felt that the girl would rather
not he still hailed the suggestion as a relief.
Can't we sit down and stay here little
whie2" he ventured TO ask, when they came
suddenly upon two inviting looking arm chairs
at the end of the little dollhouse. He really
saw no reason why he should not avail him
self of a few of the good things in the net
spread plainly in his sight.
"Oh. yes, if you like" said Daisy. coloring
painfully, but seating herself on the nearest
chair
" You gave me quite shock to-day" he be-
gan. =" had been looking at your face on the
wall, and then turned round suddenly and saw
if at my side!"
" Yes, you must have been surprised" she
answered. Her voice was low and gentle, and,
like her eyes had a touch of wistfulness in
it but her mauuer, in spite of an evident
effort, was tinged with indifference.
" How do you like being hung up there and
I'D eli D 1, IL ,,I
somehow conceived deep pity and interest for
this little PALE shrinking girl.
" / don't mind" said Daisy. in the same tone
dare say a good many people don't see the
likeness, and most of them don't know me; so
il doesn't matter"
WHO first thought of tho ideaY" Kemp
asked.
Mr.. Floyd himself We met him some-
where. aud he asked mamma whether he might
paint me. She said yes. aud so be did"
Didn't you have anything 10 say in the
matter?" said Kemp smiling little.
Daisy gave him quick glance. No. she
said, didn't care"
i" I'm afraid you're ungrateful," said Kemp.
Most ladies would he battered TO be the CEN
ter OF so much admiration"
i didn't mean TO be ungratefuli" replied
the girl rather eagerly. a. mean-I thought
it very kind OF him; butt don't think / care
very much about that sort of thing"
What do you care aboHt?" Kemp couldn't
/ help asking rather boldly.
But Daisy hardly seemed to notice the bold
ness. Itstruck him that she regarded him as
comparatively old man in whom it would he
! quite safe TO coniide. She turned TO him with
g don't kROU she said, impuIsiyely; =" /
don't believe / care for anything
woman might have felt impatient at such
confession, aud would very likely have ex-
! pressed her opinion in terse. emphatic language
TO the effect that Miss Fielding wanted good
shaking" or something to cry for" man
Of the world would have concluded instantly
that the child imagined that she cared Tor moth
! ing because she really cared very much for
something which she could not get. But Kemp
was not woman, aud had had very little ex-
I perience Of women, and the childish plant
found its way straight 10 his heart.
But that's a very wrong state of things +"
4 he said kindly. What Is the mHtterY What
makes you so Indifferent You are too young
! 10 say that, you know; and much too young 10
! feel H."
" But do feel it, !" said the girl, turning away
/ her head aud speaking less distinctly.
lie was silent for q moment, hardly liking 10
I take advantage OF her confidence 10 ask further
/ questions. lie could well imagine that Lady
Feelings daughter might not have a particn-
! larry happy life; bat he could not expect her
/ ~ "AAAhN tAF sftt ~ ~ many nbiAAs
- used 10 have fancies Of that sort, he said
at last
Did you7p said Daisy quickly. looking at
him with more personal interest than she
/ bad yet displayed. And did you lose them Z
/ Did they passg"
"of course they did Z" cried Kemp, deeply
/ touched at her pathetic eagerness. - You didn't
! fancy that you would be- unhappy all your life
because you feel miserable aL--at IS: did yonI "
She was silent; her sensitive little mouth
/ qgiyeTed slightly.
Did your" he repeated as gently as pos
sible
Sometimes" she answered at last, sadly
enough.
Indeed you won't. he assured her earnestly.
u will all pass, and you will wonder that you
ever cared at all. Things do come right, even
in real life"
Ii seemed 10 him that she started slightly az
I bis words, and the look which she wore az
their eyes met was 20 exactly that OF the pict-
ure that he almost fancied she would put her
appeal into words and ask something Of him
Instead. however she said after a little pause
:" Was Mr.. Julian really Obliged 10 so TO the
other end Of London this EVENING""
Kemp felt 50 confused and surprised at this
sudden question that he stammercd hOpeessly
over his answer; but Miss Fielding. though
She could no longer doubt that the excuse wal
made up. did not make any further remark on
IL. She played with the feathers Of her fan fol
moment Ia a hesitating sort OF manner, anc
then got up and said that they must 20 back L
the draWing-To0m.
- haven't said anything that you mind
have II" he could not help asking as the,
walked back
"Oh, mol" she cried eagerly. you've beer
very kind. j don't know how 10 thank you
" You needn't thank me-" said Kemp. =" 1
you think me kind that's all want