Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-08-06


mental conclusion, and "Do you think
SOP" Is all she says.
"Why, certainly" begins Mrs. Bassett,
and then suddenly recollecting herself,
not without the aid of Dora's elevated
eyebrows, turns very red and coughs.
Mr.. Van Wrinkle takes the remark as
an intentional bit Of quizzing. He is
angry at what he Is pleased to consider
an affront, and vexed that his national
i,lcognito should have been so unsuccess-
fully maintained.
ut couldn't DO any thing Fee said"
he says, comfortingly, to himself. "Pve
said nothing but How dye do?' and 4
beg your pardon since they came in.
Any Englshman might say as much.
Perhaps" he Eliminates further, ''she's
whore from some Americans she has
been thrown with and feels ashamed
OF herself for using the expression TO
us. shall take that view of it, at all
events"
Meanwhile, Dora endeavors to help
her mother out. A silence has ensued
which is painful to all parties, and in a
nervous anxiety to break it, she says
the first thing which comes into her
head:
81 don't believe you would think
much Of Oakden. In my opinion there
are dozens of old manor houses on the
Hudson much prettier."
''There again!" exclaims Mr.. Van
Wrinkle; 'it must be intentional this
time. One can't resent it In ones own
house except by a snub, and there is no
greater snub than ignoring remark
and changing the subject, no matter
how apropos of nothing the introduction
of the new topic may be. Bye-the-bye,"
he says, aloud, ''how is Sir Roderick?"
''Sir Roderick?" asks Mrs. Bassett,
hazily; 'do you mean"
''Sir Roderick. I trust he Is quite
well2"
''Ye-es, believe so. I don't know"
answers Mrs. Bassett.
"Then he's away from home?" says
Mr.. Van Wrinkle, in a painfully disap-
pointed voice.
'Oh, yes; he's away from home" re-
plies Mrs. Bassett, laughing. "How
fond the English are of chatting" she
says to herself; II must enter into it."
What the dickens can there be to
laugh at?" thinks Mr.. Van Wrinkle; ut
is the one great fault-the only fault,
indeed notice in English people.
They turn every thing into subject
for their levity."
"Are you going up to the drawing
room?" asks Mrs. Van Wrinkle, anxious
to say something and forgetful that
there are no court functions in the win
ter. In the correction of her mistake
by the others, the conversation assumes
a congenial tone and flows on without
check or hitch until tea Is brought in.
pray stay and have tea" says Mrs
Van Wrinkle, as Mrs. Bassett and Dora
rise to go.
Thanks, awfully," answers mother
and daughter in breath, and sit down
again.
Five o'clock tea Is such charming
CUSTOM" observes Dora, taking her cup
from Mr.. Van Wrinkle and helping her.
self to the cream and sugar he hands
her. "We are awfully fond of it."
$50 are we," Julia says; 81 think 1t
makes such a delightful event, es.
there Is nothing else to do"
at has become quite custom in
America" goes on Dora.
This is more than accident" mem
tally exclaims Mr.. Van Wrinkle; sit
is the third time. They must know, or
suspect at all events, and are trying to
catch u.s."
Neither Mrs. Van Wrinkle nor Julia
speaks. 1t is one of those occasions
with them when silence Is golden.
"Yes, indeed" continues Dora, who,
conscious of an ominous "A-hem," does
not dare to look at the frown which she
knows is pickering her mothers face;
81 can remember the time when you
never"
Dora, my dear, we must be going"
and Mrs. Bassett stands up abruptly.
$50 sorry you have to CO." smiles
Mrs. Van Wrinkle; 'it is SO very good OF
you to have come to see u.s." ("What
charming manners the English arts.
tocracy have" thinks Mrs. Bassett) II
hope we shall see good deal of each
other"
Thanks awfully," thus Dora and her
"VehOi, BoOo-pJC'
II can't say that care very much for
them,' Mr.. Van Wrinkle says after they
have gone; 81 thought their constant
reference to America very rude"
$50 did l." concurs Julia; they were
quiZzing us the whole time and smother
ing laughs. never saw any thing like
it."
Pm glad you noticed it," says her
father: ~ don't think we need return
the call"
"And yet" remarks Mrs. Van
Wrinkle, lit might show that they
never suspected us"
Perhaps" says Mr.. Var Wrinkle;
"Pll think 1t over"
Quite delightful people," says Mrs.
Bassett, lying back among the comfort
able cushions Of her brougham, as Ii
bowls down the broad avenue; II think
we made good impression. If any
thing spoiled it, 1t was your continual
reference to America
why, certainly" remarks Dora,
quie -"Cockaignc, in Argonaut