Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-16
CHAPTER XII.
Juliet Gains Experience.

'Of course" Juliet said, '"after Tredowen
i:H seems very small, almost poky, but it
isn't. really and Tredowen not for me
all my days 1t was quite time / got used
to something else"
Wingrave looked around. him with ex-
pressionless face. 1t was tiny room, high
up on the fifth floor of a block of fats.
/ prettily but nexpensivey furnished. Juliet
herself, tall and slim. with all the fire of
youth and perfect health on her young
face, was obviously contented.
"'AnFyouF- work." he asked
She made a little grlraace -
II have a good deal to unlearn.'' she said.
but Mr.. Pleydell is very kind and en-
couraging.
You will so down to Cornwall for the
hot weather, hope?' he said. London is
unbearable in August
THE class are going for sketching
tour to Normandy" she said, land Mr..
Pleydell thought that l might like to join
them. 1t is very inexpensive, and l should
| be able to go on with my work all the
time"
He nodded thoughtfully
II hear" he said, that you have met
Mr. Aynesworth again.
Wasn't it delightful she exclaimed.
He is quite an old friend of Mr.. PleydeIl.
l was so glad to him.
Il suppose he remarked you are lit
tie lonely sometimes?"
Sometimes" she admitted. But shan't
be when 1 get to know the girls in the class
a little better
Il have some friends he said thought
fully, women, Of course, who would come
and see you with pleasure. And yet" he
added. II not sure that you would not
be better off without knowing them"
They are fashionable ladies, perhaps?"
she sad simply.
He nodded
They belong to the Juggernaut here
which is called society. They would prob
ably try to draw you a little way into Its
meshes. l think, yes, am sure, he added.
looking at her, that you are better Off out
side"
And 1 quite sure of It," she answer
ed laughing. Il haven't the clothes the
time or the inclination for that sort of
thing Besides. l am going to be much too
happy ever to be lonely"
II myself" he said. IAN not an impress
sionable person But they tell me that most
people especially of your age, find London
a terribly lonely place.
Il can understand that she answered.
unless they really had something definite
to do. l have felt little of that myself.
think London frightens me a little. 1t is
50 different from the country. and there is
a great deal that it is dlncult to under
stand"
For 1nstance?'~
The great number of poor people who
find 1t so hard to live, she answered.
Some of the small houses round here are
awful, and Mr. Malcom-he is the vicar of
the church here, and he called yesterday
tells me that they are nothing like bad
as in some other parts of London. And
then you take bus, 1t Is such a short dis
tance-and the shops are full of wonderful
things at such fabulous prices, and the car
riages and houses are so lovely, and peo-
pie seem to be shOwer:ng money right and
left everywhere.
1T is the same in all large Cities" he an
swered more or less. There must always
be rich and poor when a great community
are herded together. AS rule, the ex-
treme poor are a worthless lot"
There must be some of them. though"
she answered, who deserve to have a bet
ter time. OF course, 1 have never been
contented and happy in his way, and 1t
seems terrible to me just at first. 1 can't
bear to think that every one hasn't at least
a chance Of happiness
You are too young" he said. "to bother
your head about these things yet. Wait I'M
til you have gathered in little philosophy
with the years. Then you will understand
how helpless you are to alter by ever so lit
tie the existing state of things, and it will
trouble you less,
a. she answered, may, of course. be
helpless but what about those people who
have huge fortunes and still do nothfng?''
why should they?" he answered coldly
This Is a world for individual effort. No
man is strong enough to carry even a sin
gle of his fellows upon his shoulders
Charity is the most illogical and pernicious
of all weaknesses"
Now you are laughing at me-" she de-
clared. II mean men like that Mr. VIM
grave the American who has come to Eng
! land to spend all his millions. l have Just
been reading about him. she added, point
ing to an illustrated paper on the table
They say that his income is too vast to be
put into figures which would sound reason
able; that he has estates and shooting prop
critics, and yacht which he has never yet
even seen. And yet he will not give one
penny away. He gives nothing to the hos