The record-union., 1897-08-21
PHEMIE.

cal man, IN nuSe favor with Mrs. AIDA
tross, Phemie's mother. Your mother
is highly strung-quite a woman of
genius, and allowances must be made
for her temperament, my dear young
lady; temperament rules everything.
Indeed, Mrs. Albatross's tempera-
ment seemed to rule DR.. Jasper, the par
son, the Squire, the parish, but it did
not rule Phemie.
Look here" said the girl-she was
just past twenty-''you and mother are
always croaking about me, I know; but
you do nothing to help meat least, l
think you would, but you're afraid
Your mother used to take an interest
in you, but you did not meet her half
way. Is not that so2"
NO it isn't. When I was sixteen she
had a. fad of dressing me up in last
century costume and making a doll OF
me-not my style at all, just to show OIL
her own cleverness and queerness at my
expense. She said l was ugly, ana only
dressing could make me fit to be seen.
''Wen?" said DR. Jasper, who was
rising young medico of thirty, as ne
looked gravely and judicially at the
pretty much tried girl, who only half be-
lieyed in his good will
We'll" said Phemie, every one
laughed, and I showed mother would
not stand it
And then?"
Then she packed me off to school
The mistress said was q sort of dazeo
for a time. as if I had been ill-treated-
and so I had-and quite neglected; but
they We're kind to me there, and l was
very happy for more than a year, ex-
cept in holidays, which were always
odious. Then you came along AND
Picnic paused and stole doubtfu
glance at the doctor.
What them" said the doctor, like a
person coldly inquiring for ordinary in
formation. yet with a certain little twin
lzle in his eye which did not escape the
aggrieved Phemie
Then" said the girl, Il thought you
were my friend at first, but 1 don't
know; at least
At this moment Mrs. Albatross en-
tered, and. turning sharply on Phemle
said with a snap, Il suppose you haven
fed the fowls, or sorted the linen, or dons
anything but idle away your time, as
usual?"
I was called when DR.. Jasper came
because you could not be found
I'm sick of your excuses. DIR. Jas
per does not want to see you" Their
in quite an altered tone, as Phemit
shrunk away out of the room. DO you
mind coming up to my sitting room?
want to have a talk with you about
those changes at the intirmary. I an
sure you vii agree with me, and yoJ
viii be most useful. We can't allow
things to go on" etc.
DR.. Jasper always did agree with Mrs
Albatross. But, somehow he nodded
her, and she usually came round to hi:
opinion. He listened and she talked; h'
could wait, and when he had taken hel
bearing ngs-without ever interrupting Of
contradicting her-she listened ant
talked, and not then, but next time, She
echoed his opinions and fancied they
We're all her own.
Tt is such a comfort to find a sensible
man to talk to in a stupid place like
this!" said she. laying her arm con-
fidingly upon the doctors, as he sat
smiling and agreeing with her.
Mrs. Albatress had worried one hus-
band into the grave-she was too clever
for him-but the intellectual vivacity
Imagination and enterprise made her
an interesting companion. She was
only a little past forty. and very well
preserved, and she meant to marry DR.
Jasper.
Whether it was hypnotism or viii
power, the doctor came again and again
and would not send in his bill. and the
doctors bill was never paid-he paid
himself.
Don't speak to me-" said Phemie hur-
riedly as she met the doctor eomnis
down stairs after a long confab witt
her mother, mothers about. She's ou
all tomorrow afternoon. I've got tC
naint the doors. 80 And Jasper
passed out with a sympathetic smile
She knew he would call and advise hel
about painting the doors. He did call
What a deal YOU know about mix
ing paints and things! I'm sure I wan
good advice a great deal more thar
mother does. But. then. I'm not clever
like mother" added Phemie, with a lit
tie aggrieved pout, $50 it's not worth
while talking to me-"
Il do feel for you" said the doctor
with an unusual warmth of manner. g
have done all 1 could to get your mother
to be fair to you. Pheme" Cht
had never called her Phemie before, ant
she felt her color rise) What's tht
matter?" he added. hastily, for sud
denly Phemie's eyes filed with tears
and she Just went off then and there
and left the paint pots and things with
out saying another word.
DR.. Jasper's visits became more fire.
quent Mrs. Albatross was constantly
seen about the village with him; they
met in cottages; she was devoted, SC
she said, to nursing the sick Qt was GER
tainly a new developmenD. She was
never seen with her daughter, nor was
Jasper. but he saw her daughter oftenei
than she knew; still, it seemed less and
less possible to do without Mrs. Alba
tross Her ability, her cooked foods
and port wine for cases; her influence
with the squire who disliked and obeyed
her; with the parson, whose good will
was important to the doctor, and who
was afraid of Mrs. Albatross, for she
browbeat him in the chair at parish
meeting, picked holes in his sermons
and organized the penny readings which
he disliked under his very nose. All
this and good deal more-for Mrs. Al
batross was a woman and not above
feminine arts-put Jasper in rather a
tight place.
He knew that Mrs. Albatross wanted
to marry him, and there were days, yes,
whole days, when he really thought he