The Washington bee., 1895-10-19
THE CAMELIAS.

| -, ..
The Hon. Mrs. Maltravers.
Fraser. her Gardener, ancient, auto
cratic, and well-meaning.
Scene: A Conservatory.
Mrs Maltravers-"It is very singular,
Fraser, that we shouldn't have single
camelia. Now Sir Francis houses-l
saw them only the other day-are full
of them"
Fraser-"There's a wulgarity, mum,
about camelias as it doesn't surprise me
Sir Francis-begging your pardon II
he's partickler friend of yours-should
have heap Of 'em. A nasty, snowy
shrub is a camelia, to my thinking,
num- AS gaudy as you please for a
little; but pick 'em, and in ten minutes
they're as brown as brown-and no good
for nothing. It's hallegorical, to my
thinking, num-"
Mrs. Maltravers-''Allegor What
in the world do you mean, F'raser?"
Fraser-"Well, mum, it's this: Sir
Francis wallet tells masters valet, and
masters wallet he tells me, as how Sir
Francis has lost lot of money lately,
and, camelias or no camelias, amt half
as rich as you'd think. Took to the
turf says masters valet to me only
this very morning. No fortunll stand
that, Chawls,' says I, sententious like.
4 believe you, Mr.. Fraser says he. It's
pore lookout for our Miss Lyddy,' says
l. as they're going to marry to Sir
Francis, and I'll make it my dooty to
| le! the missus know his goingS on.
Mrs. .Maltravers with dignity)-"Real-
ly. Fraser, you are excessively kind to
busy yourself so much with my-private
affairs. Let me recommend you to look
after your own business-which very
sorely needs your attention-a little
more, and mine a little less. You do not
know, perhaps, that your candor is
something very like impertinence."
| Fraser-"No, mum, don't. I'm that
fond OF Miss Lyddy (as favors my own
girl, who died when keeping company
with Mr. Jones, the undertaken, as was
in a nice way Of business, mum, and
buried the county families) as I'd do
anything for her. Sir Francis amt
good enough for our Miss. and that's
the truth. And Miss Lyddy-do she
care for Sir Francis? You take my
word for it, mum, not jot Why, when
he give his grand ball, meet Miss
Lyddy a-sauntering slow-like on that
very lawn, and says she to me, I sup
pose must have some flowers to wear
this evening, Fraser And says I,
agreeing ready: You shall, Miss. Will
you have them there white 'zaleas, or
steffynotis, or vilets? Name your flow
er. Miss, and I'll do it. oh, don't care
thank you, Fraser says she with her
smile, only tired lie. 1t don't much
matter. Send me whatever you will
miss least Now, that's unnateral,
mum. My idea is, when young wo-
mans in love. greenhouses and the deli
catest of plants and the feelings of hall
the gardeners in creation amt nothing
to her. Why, Miss Lyddy herself, when
the Captain was a-staying up at the
house, treated them pots O lilies of the
valley cruel. Lilies for her nosegay,
and lilies to put in her frock, and lilies
(Which. was wicked) to pin, quite sense
less, on her fan. And all a-cause, I
suppose, of the Captain. saying to her
one day--I heard him, though busy prun-
ing-Lilies are your flower Miss NAL !
travers. I never Ike to see you wear
any other Or som'at like that |
Mrs. Maltravers (frigidly)-"You seem
TO know a great deal more about my !
daughters feelings than I do, Fraser ,
1 must really beg that you will keep /
your information to yourself. I
Fraser-"No, mum, I can't. Sorry as :,
/ am to disoblige a lady as has been al I
ways considerate-eXcept for asking oc- !
casional for flowers and coocumbers out .
Of season. must say my mind about
Miss Lyddy and Sir Francis If Sir
Francis were sure of his money T
shouldn't have spoke. Moneys a nice
thing, mum. I'm not going to say
tho she don't think so-that if Sir Fran
els had been all tight and snug it
mightn't have made up to her in time
for losing the Captain. But it amt It
amt at all. His wallet is an honest
spoken gentleman, and he says to our
Chawls: You take my word, Chawls,'
says he, we shall have bust-up at our
place afore long And so they will
Mrs. Maltravers-"May I ask if you
are presuming to offer me advice as to
whom Miss Lyddy is to marry?"
Fraser-"No, mum, not yet; but I'm ;
coming to it. If you and master amt
above listening to an old fellow who is !
nigh upon as fond of her as you are. I
say let her have her Captain. He amt
got much, COOK tells me. But what he Z
has is sure. And as 1 said to my Polite
when the undertaken was a-walkins
with her: Tt amt wealth Jones has ):
Mary, but it's sure Now pictures
(there was picture dealer as had been
a. a-dangling after her), they may go out
Of fashion or they may stay in. Good
ness knows. But die people must, fash ]
ion or no fashion. And be undertook
they must also-by the laws of the |
land. It's the same with Iiss Lyddy's
Captain. And she's ond of him-which |
don't count for much in the hupper 4
classes I'm aware, but is useful, un- ,
common useful"
Mrs. Maltravers "a little less sarcas- J
ask, Fraser, what rea- =
sons you have for thinking Miss Lydia Z