The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-12-03

Charles cheerfuIIy to that lazy. ''UnIy
the back of her chair. We took alarm
unnecessarily. Just as it should be. !
have done the same myself with--a diff
ferent chair"
"He is always doing it," continued
Aurena unmollifed. 81 have told him
about it before. He made me drop q
piece Of bread and butter on the carpet
only yesterday"
II ate itafterward, humbly suggested
Ralph, still on his knees, "and there
were hairs in it. There were, indeed,
Aureha." So e t-
Sand now it is my tea gown" contin-
ued Aurelia, giving way to the prethest
little outburst Of temper imaginable.
"I wish you would get up and go away,
Ralph, and not come back. You are
only making it worse by rubbing it In
that silly way with your wet handker-
chief"
"Here is another" said Charles, snatch
ing up Lady Mary's delicate cambria
one, which was lying on her work table,
while I was in the act Of introducing
Carr to her; and before that lady's po-
likeness to Carr would allow her to turn
from him to expostulate Charles was on
his knees beside Ralph, wipingl the Of
Tending stain.
"sOut, damned spotl sr rather, series
Of spots. What, Aurelf4@s you don't wish
it rubbed any more? Good. Twill turn
my attention to the Aubusson carpet.
Ha! triumph! Here at least I am sue
cessful. Aunt Mary, you have no con-
ception how useful your handkerchief Is.
The amount of tea or dirt, or both, which
is leaving the carpet and taking refuge
in your little square Of cambria will sur
prise you when you see it. Ahp'-rising
from his knees as I brought up Carr,
having by this time presented him to Sir
George. every happy to see you, Mr..
Carr. Most kind Of you to come. Eve
Ign, are you pouring out some tea for
Mr.. Carr? Nature requires support be-
fore last rehearsal. May / introduce
you to my cousin, Miss Derrick
After Carr had also been introduced
to Aurelia, who, however, was still too
much absorbed in. her tea gown to take
much notice of him, he seemed glad to
retreat to chair by Evelyn, who gave
him his tea and talked pleasantly to him.
He was very shy at first, but he soon got
used to us, and many were the curious
chances shot at him by the rest of the
party as tea went on. There was to be
last rehearsal Immediately afterward,
so that he might take part in it, and
there was general unacknowledg
anxiety, on the part Of all the actors as
to how he would bear that crucial test
on which so much depended. I was be-
coming anxious myself, being in man
ner responsible for him.
You're not nervous, are you" I said,
taking him aside when tea was over.
''Only act half as well as you did on the
steamer and you will do capita1ly."
Eyes, am nervous" he replied, with
short, uneasy laugh. cit is enough to
make fellow nervous to be set down
among a lot of people whom he has never
seen before-to act principal part, too.
had no idea it was going to be such
grand affair or would not have come.
only did it to please you"
Of course knew that and tried to
reassure him, reminding him that the
audience would not be critical and how
grateful every one was to him for COM
ing.
7sTell me who some of the people are,
will youp he went on. "Who is that
tall man with the fair mustachep He is
looking at us now"