The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-10
WHAT WILL
LADY ANNE SAY =?
CHAPTER I.
LoTrA's ARRIVAL.


M SUPPOSE we must invite her here"
H. sighed Mrs. Hallett, as she sat with
liz folded hands, watching her eldest
daughter peruse the letter she had just
given her. Your papa leaves it to me;
but being a relative of his own, think he
will be vexed if l slight her."
at is a bore to have relatives at ALL" ex-
claimed Diana Hallett, with her thin
aquiline nose in the air. 'If they are poor,
they worry; if rich, they take too much
upon themselves But suppose it will not
be for long?"
"Oh, no; don't youi see that she says she
has obtained another engagement, but does
not commence it for ten days"
"Ten days will soon pass away" unused
Diana; 81 suppose we could put up with
her for that time"
"Of whom are you talking?" asked her
sister Aurora, who had been absorbed in
the fashion plate she was studying
"Lotta Maynard. Her mother was papa's
half sister She is coming to London, and
he would like us to be civil to her,
but she is a gOvernessW and Aurora
curved her pretty mouth into sneer.
''Mv dear, she is not any the worse Tor
that Mrs. Hallett observed, reprovingly.
ut is very much to her credit that she has
supported herself since the death of her
parents instead of troubling u.s..
" have no doubt she is most estimable
woman" said Aurora drily," but one can
always admire these shining characters
more at distance. Besides, what are we
to do with her? Papa will not like to see
her relocated TO the nursery or the school
room with the children; and how are We to
Introduce her to our friends, as my cousin
the governess"
at will be only for ten days" repeated
Mrs Hallett, "and-and l can't be worried
l shall have one Of my bad headaches II you
worry me So"
And then we cannot 60 TO the flower
show this afternoon cried Diana in dis
may. "Do hold your tongue, Aurora, and
let mamma go and lie down. To please
papa the girl must come; and | dareSay she
is a shy, Insignificant little rustic, who will
be half afraid OF US, and can be easily kept
in the background"
But Diana Hallett was not always correct
in her conclusions, and it was she who felt
awkward when she first encountered her
deSpSed cousin.
Returning one afternoon with her mother
and sister from high tea and dish of COS
sip at the house of fashionable friend, she
peeped into the morning room to see II her
father had returned from the city, in which
case her toilet must be haSly One-f0r If
Mr. Hallett ever lost his temper it was when
his vile or daughters ventured to keep the
dinner waiting.
NO, lIt NGdAluN GltS ulclCudIb udQ uOG
yet put in an appearance; bat Give, his
junior partner and only son. was standing
on one side OF the fireplace, talking with
unusual animation to a tall dignihed-l0Ok-
ing girl who sat opposite him.
Without a trace of bashfulness the stran-
ger arose and came forward to be intro
duced to Diana, whose cheek she slightly
kissed, saying:
at was very kind Of my uncle to give me
this opportunity of seeing you. l have
long had wish to know what my cousins
were like"
As she finished speaking she turned to-
ward Give and smiled, and, Diana re-
naming silent, Miss Maynard resumed the
subject she had been discussing with the
young man.
She was already dressed for dinner, and
not in rustic tnery or old-fashlOned dOWdl-
ness. The neck of her black cashmere
dress was filled in with old lace, ridiculously
good for a gOverneSs TO wear. as Aurora
spitefully commented; aud her pasSemente-
RE trimmings were SO handsome and taste
full that the Misses Hallett were incredu-
lous when informed that Lolita had wrought
them herself.
1t was a satisfaction to Diana to see that
the guest neither possessed her sisters
mignonne prettiness nor her own regular
features; bat Lolita Maynard was endowed
with the gift of fascination. Whether she
smiled or was serious her face was such
speaking one as TO be attractive, and Give
had already fallen under its spell.
1T was most unfortunate that we were
out when you arrived" Diana observed,
as soon as she could find an opportunity.
"Why?" asked Lolita. Your brother
kindly did all in his power to make NE feel
myself at home"
''Oh, yes; Give is immensely good-na-
tured-tOo much so at times. Bat how very
awkward it must have been for you'll What
courage you must possess to chat so freely
with . maroon like nv brOf her ~
Lolita smiled.
Z" l did not find him very formidable, and
when we got on the subject of electricity
was able to supply him with few facts 1
learned from Viscount Epperly when l was
educating his little daughter"
"Ab, yes; forgot that your-profession
do you call 1t ?-compels you TO study all
these dry ologies. Really" and Diana
laughed affectedly, Aurora and will not
know how to entertain such a learned lady"
- Pray do not take any trouble on my ac-
count" was the quiet response, Nor let
me interfere with any Of your arrange
ments. | can always amuse myself"
but she shall not be allowed TO find her
amusement in flirting with Give" NUT
teied the Disconnected Diana to her sister.
Il can see that she is one of those danger
Gus girls vino are always ready to make
dead set at young man in good position.
What will Lady Anne say if IL comes to her
ears?"
And Diana could have cried with vex-
alton as she fOreboded the overthrow OF a
favorte scheme. Lady Anne Graeme was
good, simple little girl, who bore with
cheerful patience the whims and exactions
of the maiden aunt with whom she resided,
and under ordinary circumstances the
Misses Hallett would have called her I'M
interesting. But they had met her at
Folkestone, where Give had saved her
from drowning, and this had invested the
acquaintance with romance; moreover, she
was the daughter of a peer-a Scotch earl
with more children than income-and to be
able to say "My sister-in-law, Lady Anne"
would be so delightful that when Give
eYnced q slight tendresse for her little
ladyship his sisters encouraged it by every
effort in their power.
They corresponded with Anne; they were
civil for her sake to her cross old aunt,
sending her I'D best of their fruit, the
rarest of their flowers, and they did not
rest till they obtained her consent to Anne's
acceptance Of an invitation to spend few
weeks with them in the autumn. She
would be here shortly, perhaps in a few
days, but what would be the result If she
found Give enthraled by an Insignificant
goyerness-a poor relation who refused to
be snubbed and Kept In her place
Lolita Maynard went to bed that night
very well satisfied with her reception. The
resemblance she bore to her dead mother
aroused in the mind of Mr.. Hallett remin-
iseences that made him speak very tenderly
to his niece. Mrs. Hallett. if indolent and
unsympathetic, was always gentle and
courteous. Give had treated her with
cousinly kindness, and if his sisters were
chilling in their demeanor 1t did not signify.
Lolita could do without their friendship for
ten days; after that period it was not likely
that they would meet again.
But this Indifference to their GOODNESS was
immensely provoking. She was horribly
presuming" Diana said to Aurora when
they came down TO breakfast-late as usual
and found that Lolita had not only taken
Mrs. Hallett her cup of chocolate to her
bedside, but poured out coffee and buttered
rolls for Give and his father, helped them