The herald., 1894-10-31

bie sd1u. OOuluQ we manage SOlue
greens instead of all that 'ighbiscus?"
And John marveled at her erudition
She had once attended series of botan-
ical lectures at Kew, organized by her
Sunday school teacher.
''Things will look more 'omelike
presently" said Ellen as she fastened
strings outside the vsranda for scarlet
runners to be trained upon.
She was bending over the strings as
she spoke, and John stopped and kissed
her smooth hair little awkwardly. 81
knew you'd make it seem different
when you came, old girl" he said
huskily.
"Oh, it is nice to be ERE, said Ellen.
Three days later Mrs. Gasparez came
to CALL picking her way through the red
dust of the road with little mincing
steps She was quite young and very
stout, and her fat, brown face was
naively and thickly coated with powder.
She had abundant shiny black hair and
small, good natured eyes. She wore a
bright blue merino dress trimmed with
thin satin that cracked like paper. A
cape on her shoulders tangled with
beads, and there were red and yellow
flowers in her bonnet. A little observa
tion had corrected her mistake as to
''thee brides English maid" and, al
though she considered Ellen person Of
low ideas, there was no one else to talk
to, and she was prepared to be kind to
her. There was no servant to be seen in
the veranda, and Mrs. Gasparez raised
her shrill voice in vain.
''Ooh, 1 hope this is not veree great
hbertee, said Mrs. Gasparez as, tired
of waiting, she stepped into the little
sitting room. But the room was empty.
She examined it critically. "Veree
neat" she said, 'but not at all smartl
My, onlee two antimacassr'
She sat down, very genteelly, on the
edge of chair. Her fiounces cracked
stiffiy. Five minutes later the bride ap-
peared. She wore big apron, and she
was turning down her sleeves.
''Ooh, am sorree to have disturbed
you. 1 see you have been unpacking,
said Mrs. Gasparez politely.
''I'm very glad to see you, and 1 'ope
! 'aven't kept you waiting long," said
Ellen, "but didn't see you come, and
I couldn't make out what that boy Alb
dool was trying to tell nae at first.
was out in the kitchen. Don't you find
it very tiresome aving your kitchen SO
far from the 'ouse?"
''Ooh, yes, but you will grow used
to it presentlee. I am veree particular.
I go into thee bawachi khana everee
morning to see what my bawachi, the
cook, you know, is doing, and some
times in the afternoon also. -
Mrs. Gasparez' S voice shrilled into un-
expected cadences, and she emphasized
small words and laid great stress ON ter
limitations with that Eurasian accent
which is as indescribable as it is unmis-
taxable. Ellen's voice seemed very full
and deep as she replied.
II 'aven't got cook. don't mean
to ave one."
my, how will you eat?" screamed
Mrs Gasparez.
Cant you cook?"
my, mol can make lovelee metal
sweets, you know, but to cook thee
meats, and thee soups, and thee curries,
ooh, nor
81 don't like curries,'' said Ellen.
They're too spicy and all odds and
ends You never know what you may
be eating. John says he likes my cook
ing the best of any he ever ate. -
''Ooh, but your handsp'
Ellen glanced from her own capable
fingers to the tightly stuffed yellow
gloves that lay ON Mrs. Gasparez's S blue
lap. One of the seems had burst. and
ring with a vast red stone cleaned
through.
''Use comes before looks, said Ellen.
'Ooh, yes!" said Mrs. Gasparez
doubtfully.
:" Ave you been ere long? Do you
like it?'' asked Ellen.
"Onlee six months 1t is veree dull.
There is no sooietee. often say to my
husband, I think I shall run away
You see, we came from up countree, and
there it was veree jollee, SO nance peo-
pie. Here there are onlee four houses. l
do not know what to do with myself ahl
day long"
II should think your children would
keep you pretty busy" said Ellen
'Ooh, yes, there are four, but they
are veree small. The babee is only s
months old, and they have their ayah.
You see, they are so noisee, and 1 am
not strong
81 don't fancy these natives" said
Ellen. II shouldn't like to see their
black 'ands touching any child I was
fond Of" And then she remembered the
dark skin which so clearly proclaimed
Mrs. Gasparez's connection with the
country and FIT very uncomfortable,
but fortunately Mrs Gasparez consid-
cred herself purely European and always
spoke of the England that she had never
seen as "home''
MY. yes, they are fearful, you will
see. Your servants will always kikh
you, worree you. you know"
''I shall ave just as few as ever can
do with. Wouldn't you like to see my
kitchen? You see, she continued, lead
ing the way into the next room, 81
keep all the plates in ere and shall do
the pastry making and so on ERE, and
I wanted John to let me ave stove
but % says it won't do for the 'ot
weather. F"
They went out to the mud hut in the
garden, which served as kitchen. 1t
nad been newly whitewashed within
and without and at the freshly planed
cable stood depressed looking scullion