The Saint Paul globe., 1900-11-19
CHAPTER VII.
MRS MAcKENzIE's DIPLOMACY.

Mrs MACkENZIE'S S DIPLOMACY,
During the next fortnight Molly had
frequent opportunities of judging of the
| sensations caused by that unconlforta be
! The Misunderstanding between the eld-
| e1 ladies, the perpetual state of irritation
! IN winch they appeared to live, the short.
| com1ngs of the one towards the other,
| being invariably retailed to her in an
| aggrieVed and somewhat reproa achfuI
| tone by either or both parties, who evil
aently considered the girl to be to some
extent responsible.
Your aunt seems very uncertain in
her temper, Miss O'Neill would say, in
her politely disdainful way. land appears
to have quite passion for contradicting
people. When l was young it was con-
sidered rude to contradict; but no doubt
things have changed since then"
Your friend is certainly very odd"
Mrs. Mackenzie would assert, rubbing
her chin, as was her habit when annoy
| ed and so exceedingly conceited. How
! you can listen in patience to the rub
| hish she talks passes my comprehension
| Then her airs and graces-I must say 1
! find them very trying. Molly, though You
appear rather to enjoy being looked down
| upon-not to say walled over. How
ever, l am determined not to let anyone
| walk over me-.
Dear aunt, If you would not always
be on the look out for affronts," plead d
Molly on one occasion, 'and if you did
not think it necessary to argue quite 50
@oh, of course, if you take her part
against me- retoFted Mrs Mackenzie
with snort Of indignation. There was
! a good deal of secret jealousy at the
| bottom of her grievances; it seemed to
| her that the old lazy monOpolized Molly,
! and that the latter was mt ill-pleas-d to
! be so appY Opriated.
! But Molly this time effectually silenc9d
her with VIGOROUS hug, and then con-
'She is very old, remember, aunties
| and if she is little eccentric 1 dom t
| think she can help it. Couldn't you
slipping her hand through the. others
| you sometimes let a thing pass, even
| when you don't agree to it?"
| molly, that would be double-dealing
! It goes against my principles to say what
don't think. am not hypocrite."
You needn't say a single word, if you
| don't like. but you might-just for my
sake, you know-allOw Miss O'Neiu to
! make what statements she pleases with
| out cOntradicting her.
'WeH I'll try Molly" returned her
! aunt with a deep sigh. For your sake,
since you put it that way; but it will be
a struggle -
! Molly's self-congTatulations over her
victory were short-lived, for her we'll
meant endeavors to promote peace and
harmony resulted in disastrous failure.
+ The next time the old lady somewhat de-
family advanced one of her much-cOm-
bated propositions Mrs Mackenzie, who
/ had been opening her mouth to disagree.
! paused. closed her lips with a snap, and
swallowed down her repartee with a
( gulp, as if it were particularly nasty
pill.
Miss O'Neill, who had expected an ar
gument, gazed at her in silence. but with
her color slowly mounting. took note OF
! the expression of her face, and then
rising in high dudgeon, stalked out OF
the room.
After pause of blank dismay. Molly
ventured to follow her. and found hel
pacing up and down her bedroom, evi-
! IDENTIFY in towering passion.
Come in. child,'' she cried, as Molly's
crimson face came peeping round the
door. 81 want to speak to you. Per
/ haps you can explain your aunt's be-
havior for I confess I am at loss tc
understand it. I can submit to a good
deal. but there are some things that
do not think 1 am called upon to put UP
with and I must say I do objecttc
/ grimances bein" made at me in my owr
| house"
''Grimacesr gasped Molly, "You dom
think. surely"
my dear, saw her pausing tc
stamp her foot, and then resuming hel
angry progress up and down the room
You aunt distinctly grimaced at me
at my own table. l will not bear 1t
There. don't deny it.. I cannot disbe
/ heve my own eyes, though it certainly