The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-04-10

CHAPTER XVI.

OOntkuutub
ct was her way of looking at Gift
ford, and speaking so low" she ex-
planned when, long afterward, she
found confidant respecting the trials
of that first evening" speaking so low
and tremulous, when, not minute
before, she had given loud orders to
my seryents about her boxes. And
then her hat-a modest woman, seek
ing a situation among young children,
with a hat like that upon her head!
and her mantle trimmed actually with
velvet, and dress that might have
stood alone, when she said herself that
her mamma had scarce the common
necessaries Of life! These were the
things that set me right as to her real
nature from the first moment saw
her"
And as Jane never mentioned any
thing about Miss Fergussons youth
and beauty, and Gifford's evident and
warm appreciation of the same, it is
to be held that these petty considera-
lions did not really influence her in
the opinion to which she referred.
Miss Ferguson was very lively and
pleasant at tea; and indeed during all
the rest Of the evening. Quite early
in the entertainment she asked Miss
Grand, as a girl may ask a middle
aged woman, to call her at once by
her Christian name Matty.
st is really Matilda, you know, but
mamma always calls me Matty, and
should be very glad if you would do
SO too''
Thereby making Jane feel herself to
be old enough to be Matty's mother,
and Clifford to think what natural
unaffected creature this poor neglected
child managed, after ALL to grow up.
How many years is it exactly since
you and Mr. Mohun metz" said Jane
in the course of Miss Matty's little con-
tinental "reminiscences. -Four? five?
you could not have been such a very
young child then, after all. -Four years
ago you we're
Nearly fifteen" said Matty, COM
posedly. 81 didn't look my age, did I,
Mr.. Mohun? l was very short indeed
for year after that, and poor dear
mamma always would dress us to look
like children of eleven. What life it
wasr'--eyes of perfect candor as she
said this-"osciIlating between Ems
and Spa and Wiesbaden and Baden in
summer, and Hamburg and Frankfort
in winter-poor papa always playing,
playing at that horrible tapis vert,
whether we had money for dinner or
not; and dear mamma still dressing
and going to.all the concerts and balls,
when Pm sure there was enough at
home to break her heart il she had
felt things even as much as we chill
dren. Do you know, Miss Grand. my
sister and / have often gone round to
the hotels at dinner time and begged
bits of broken meats as the dishes
came out from The table d'hote-and
this, perhaps, ut the very time when
poor mamma would be dressing her
self elegantly for the Redoute in the
evening. Such things must have
seemed almost incredible to you, |
am sure"
Mohun glanced at Jane. as much as
TO say. "You see what l have told you
about their bringing up was true" but
ne also looked favorably upon Miss
Mattys flushed, candid face, Jane felt
that the girl was saying precisely what
put herself in the best position-allow-
ing facts that Gifford's memory must
make it impossible for her to ignore,
and improving them to the utmost!
Mohun had forgotten every syllable
of her letter within half an hour OF
reading it; but Jane tenaciously re-
membered those words: "Our happy
circle" eour dearest father and moth
or" and opposed them to the picture
of starved Innocence begging broken
meats while unworthy parents wasted
their substance on their own frivolity
and miserable pleasuresl
That morning-nay, not an hour ago
Clifford, with the vision before him
of Mrs. ferguson and the freckled
| children, had been cynical, suspicious,
and very near the truth in his remarks
upon what Miss Matty must have
grown up; Jane. all charity, forbear-
| ance. generous sentiment toward the
friendless girl she was going to be-
friend. They had seen the poor friend
less girl. and 10! she was fair to look
upon. plausible of speech and attrac-
tive in manner. And now Mr.. Mohun
was disposed to like her, and to stare,
well content. in her handsome face
ana listen, well diverted. to her lively
foreign talk; and Jane the mild, the
charitable, the kindly had already
gone long way on the road toward
hating her and suspected hidden
motive or detected a palpable deceit
| under every one of the pretty little
romances her childish tongue babbled
forth.
Was she commonly, meanly Jealous
then ?-she, who had always held her
self above the mere suspicion of such
a feeling.
When that long evening had Worn rc
close, all Miss Matty's amusing stor'
les over, and Mohun was lighting his
cigar previous to departure, Jane stole
out after him to the little hall, and
with a quiet conscious feeling of heI
own despicable weakness attempted
TO sound him on the subject so ter
ribly near her heart.
/ "you judged her too hardly, Clifford
She is very nice girl. after ALL anc
land unusually handsome, Clifford, i
she notg'
Mr.. Mohun was standing under th'
porchway now, his face appraised
..5 1,te ,,as.,,a nxtsdonffx