Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-12-23
CHAPTER TX.

It was not without some soreness Of spirit
that Chris left her friends in Devonshire-
leaving them, as she felt she was doing, for
ever. It had been kind of Lady Banstaple to
speak Of having her back in the autumn they
had all been kind to her from the very first;
but she did net intend to return to them.
Despite their kindness, they had shown her,
Intentionally or unintentionally, that she was
not of their GLASS, a fact which had never
been brought home to her during her fathers
lifetime. II they had not said in so many
words, they had at least limited that she had
made an attempt to fascInate q member Of
their family, and that such attempts would
not be tolerated for moment mo-" thought
CHRIS, II shall never sea Brentstow again. II
am not their equal would much rather not
associate with them" And this was sad
enough, because she had been very happy at
Brentstow. When, all Of sudden, she found
her eyes full Of tears and brushed them impR-
tiently away, she attributed that momentary
weakness to regret at bidding long farewell
to Lady Grace and to part of England which
had taken her fancy. Assuredly she had
nothing else to cry about.
Ugly old Martha had grin Of welcome for
the weary traveller, and whispered: "I'Il bring
you nice cup Of 'ot tea to your bedroom d.
rectly; there's nothing but bit Of I'd boiled
mutton for your supper downstairs"
But Martha's mistress was less gracious.
II can't understand your ways Of going on,
Christina" Miss Ramsdcn began ENORMOUSLY,
the moment that she caught sight of her
niece. "You seem to delight in shaking my
nerves with kilograms. You might have sent
letter for penny; and anybody but you
would have done 1t. However, suppose you
can't be happy unless you are throwing away
money; it's only what might have been ex-
pected."
Chris explained that her departure from
Brentstow had been decided upon rather
hastily.
"whyP" inquired the old lady sharply.
"What need was there If hasteT"
This being an awkward question to answer
Chris left 1t unanswered, which provoked her
aunt into remarking:
"You outstayed your welcome, no doubt.
can't say am surprised at that; it isn't
everybody who would put up with your ca
prices as do"
What she meant it was rather dificult to
understand; probably she meant nothing at
all, except that she was out Of temper, and
would like to relieve Ter feelings by q COM
Portable quarrel. But Chris, not having been
brought up among women, ana comprehend
Ing little OF their queer ways, forbore to re-
quest an explanation from her aunt, who
called her sulky girl, and went grumbling
OF to bed.
Miss Ramsden was always grumbling, and
would have been thrown away upon her.
There was nothing for it, Chris thought, but
to leave her to herself as much as possible.
and to remain silent when she rallied at i'm
aginary sights and affronts. That was doubt
less the moro dignihed course to adopt; but
In some ways 1t would have been better to
fight with the stingy, ungracious old woman,
to reduce her to tears (which could have been
easily done) and to make friends with her
ne To~1 kn&,- ~
and that would at least have produced inter-
walls OF peace and good-humor. As it was,
Miss Ramsdsn coon began to complain bit
terly Of her niece's neglect.
II did think" she would say, "that when II
was arranged that we should live together, I
should gain something in the way Of com.
p0nionship In return for all the expense and
Inconvenience to which have been put; but
1t seems that am never to be allowed to see
your face except at dinner-time."
To such reproaches Chris made no reply.
She was willing to play besique for an hour or
two every evening, much as she abhorred
that game; but to surrender her share of such
fresh air as London has to give, to sit indoors
every afternoon, with the blinds drawn down
in order that the faded old carpets might be
protected from the sunshine, was more than
she could bring herself to undertake; and as
she did not intend to Oon0ede that point, she
held her tongue.
Every afternoon she and Peter wandered
about the Regents Park, and they soon be-
came acquainted with every square yard of
that not very expansive pleasure-ground.
The weather was sultry, the grass was burned
up, the trees were blackened with the London
SCOT; they were neither of them very happy
In that brown oasis Of theirs, amid the SUR
rounding desert Of bricks and mortar. After
few days Peter did not care to roam about
much in such an uninteresting place. He sat
dejectedly under the trsps beside his mistress.
while she told him her troubles, which he
seemed to understand. and which were as
desperately real as the troubles Of young peo-
pie always are. Chris sven reached the point
OF wishing that 1t were not wrong to commit
suicide, and wondering why 1t should be.
Her life was OF no use to her or to anybody
else; from life, as she had formerly UNDER
stood the term, she was hopelsssly cut of;
and she could no longer look forward, as she
had done at irst. 70 eventual escape from her