, 1897-03-12
A BIT OF HUMBUG.

-Wnicn by the way, was not eldOm-
father used TO pack me up to London to
stay with my own mothers friend,
Christina Dalton. in her tiny flat al
Chelsea.
There was only a comfortable amount
Of room in the fiat for Christie and her
servant: but they always found a place
for me. l slept in a nice dressing room.
opening out OF Christie's bed room.
There was no door OF communication
between, only prettily Topped muslin
curtains; but as l went 10 bed early, and
Christie invariably worked till 2 or 8 in
the morning, / was seldom disturbed by
hearing her chat herself to sleep. as is
her eccentric custom. This habit of
hers comes from living much alone, |
suppose, for Christie is by nature a
genial, companionable little creature.
who. from necessity rather han choice,
learns to depend more and more,as time
goes on. upon Christina Dalton as friend
and confidante.
A woman wastsd-lhat is what Chris
tie seems to be. Yet who knows? She
is ~well-known now in the literary
world; she has her work to do, and loves
doing it. No doubt she is as happy as
the majority OF her fellows.
When Tom and | quarreled very bad
ly during u short engagement, and |
decided on leading a life Of celibacy, |
falt fhnf rhristin Wac 1pit, ;pI;,pnr,,
BILE.
Now, Christie, be it known, affects
great wOrldliness and scorn OF senti-
ment. | believed in her once, in her
~cynicism, GOODNESS and self-sufliciency.
But that was a long. long time ago.
Christie was out when | arrived. That
is very characteristic of her: she is in
variably out when one counts on her
being in. She came home about 8 o'clock
at night, and whirled into the tiny din
ing room, n brisk. breezy little person,
who had never been pretty, handsome.
or. indeed, anything but barely passa-
BILE.
so dreadtully sorry, Kit she said.
shaking hands with me. and absently
putting her drenched umbrella into her
favorite armchair. Il meant to wait
in for you, but some tiresome woman
got i'll. and | had to GO and sit with her.
l don't want you to think that I've been
doing Good Samaritan. mind-out In
this heavy rain. too! Oh, dear no! But
.ba ,1,n,,, T. I-,.t -, Ill Hiatt. 49,.
can help me with my new book, if
she will, though: people never do help
you unless as a tit-for-tat speculation.
Anyway, | went and offered her tat to-
day. purely as a matter Of business.
Now. Kit, tell me all about yurself. So
you are not going to be married after
all. | hear? | sincerely congratulate you,
my dear"
We sat down to an unwholesome sup
per OF bread and cheese. salad, and
plum-tarl. Christie's ideas Of catering
for a guest are unique.
| fixed my eyes upon my plate, and
determined that I would rather be burnt
alive than let Christie see my cry.
Il have come to you" | said calmly,
because | know hat you can teach me
how to lead a busy. happy, and useful
life"
Dear, dear. Is it so bad as that?"
she questioned in perturbation. Let
us haul the table nearer the fire, shall
we? This cold is really intense! Well,
Kit. we have to be very miserable be-
fore We want to be busy and useful
eh?"
| was miserable-no one more so
but | stoically gulped down bread and
cheese and said nothing.
Men are such fools!' commented
Christie. mo doubt you are well rid
OF him: but still-mayn't it be rather a
Pity"
Christie is habitunlly Inconsistent in
her harsh little condemnatlons OF the
world and her kind. Her contradictions,
therefore, never surprise me.
I did no, look at her. but only shook
my head.
Some women Christie warned me,
cant get or with nothing more salts
flying than Il busy. useful life. ] cam
like It: but then | am a woman of so,
who has no hankering after marriage,
and you, Kit. are a young girl OF one
and-twenty who has"
II haven't" I denied wrathtully.
pushing aside my plate. Il wish 10 be
u white slave to no man. and II won't!
l told him So
Take some salad" suggested Chris
tie practically, cor get yourself another
plate and cut the tart. Bottled plums-
they won't be acid. but II they are. just
call for some sugar; the girl is sure to
have some somewhere. Has he Tilted
you?"
TILTED mel" | cried, in open-eyed
Amusement. Tilted me?-Tom!"
HIM" grunted Christie, with n queer
little hard smile. Not very unusual
conduct in a man, Is it,"
at is very unlike Tom" l answered,
as my hand closed on Toms last letter
lying-unanswered-in my pocket.
why are you so bent on running men
down tonlght?"
Christie very seldom criticises the
sterner sex-she generally leaves them
aavaraly a1onp