The Holly chieftain., 1903-05-08
CHAPTER w,


best thing for her, in my opinion,
would be to have her come out as
soon as possible. OF course, it
wouldn't be decent for her to do so
before the 1st of January; but, think.
by that time, seeing no one knew her
father here, SO that it wouldn't shock
anybody else's feelings, it would be
perfectly proper. If she were like
most girls, / should naturally advise.
on grounds of respect, waiting for an
other year; but, you see, Eleanor was
eighteen last autumn, and if she were
to wait she would be twenty before
she came out which, considering her
excessive shyness and quietness,
would be the worst thing possible for
her. l am afraid of the poor child
becoming morbid. All she seems to
care for is wandering through the
woods or sitting on the beach by her
sell Tor hours, or else reading. 1t can't
be good for her. l like to see girls at
her age bright and taking an interest
in things. It's to be expected that
she should mourn her father, but it
isn't healthy to allow her grief to prey
on her mind"
1t is the green-eyed monster that
doth make the food it feeds on
Shakespeare" said the young banker,
JOLLY. No, that's jealousy; but it
applies to grief just as we'll You let
yourself get harping on a thing and
it's all up with you"
Then you agree with me?"
"a IN w of eo;,l
his wifes anxious air.
"The propriety of her coming out
after the 1st of January.
Any plan that you and Eleanor fix
on VIII suit me, cherub. leave it all
in your hands,"
You have said you mean to give
her ball." Emma remarked, medi-
tatively.
SO do; handsome one. It'll be
good excuse for throwing open our
| new house."
Well, then. shall consider it set
tied; only / shall have to be thinking
about her clothes at once. | don't
suppose the child will make any oh
jections."
She felt, nevertheless, a little anx-
ious on this last head until she had
talked to Eleanor who, however, said
that she was not competent to decide
as to the proper time for laying aside
her mourning, and that her aunt was
the best judge.
Il should be very sorry, dear, to
give you the impression that was lax
in such matters" said Emma. serious
ly, but think your future happiness
may be very dependent on your COM
ing out this winter; SO it seems to me
you do right in being a little less
strict in following custom than in or.
binary cases.
Eleanor merely assented; but next
day, when they were alone together
after breakfast, she suddenly con-
fronted her aunt with the INQUIRY wbv
there was any need of her coming out
at all.
Need OF your coming OUT" Emma
said, in tone of astonishment. Then.
after a moments attempt to grapple
in her own mind with the extraordi-
nariness of Such proposition, she re-
piled, with dignity: Your Uncle Har-
old depends on your coming out, e.
eanor."
The girl looked at her vaguely.
Il should be very happy without It,"
she said.
Emma surveyed the calm recalci-
trant in dumbfounded fashion that
was still more naughty She felt that
she was called on to combat a frame
of mind radically out of gear, and
that she must speak unequivocally..
1T is not question of your present
happiness or of your unhappiness, Ell
eanor but of your whole future If
you do not show yourself in the world
and become familiar with it's usages,
how are you to fit yourself for your
part in life, whether as a wife-for
you are likely to be married-or, even
assuming that you are not-as-as
your Uncle Harold's niece and my |
niece?"
Mrs. Stagg conscientiously based |
her argument on nigh moral grounds. |
She had no patience with the cynical
or misinformed people who habitually |
stigmatized society as hollow and friv-
olous, or who declared that girls came |
out merely to find husbands. Such |
critics were either envious, or did not |
know what they were talking about 1t |
was too much the custom for those on |
the confines of good society to sneer |
at those on the other side Of the hedge |
without knowledge of their feelings