The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-03-01

passed herself, Lady Massingham was
in her most disagreeable mood, which
showed me how beautifully every.
thing was going Of"
and the money!"
well, that was q little disappoint.
Ing" she admitted. Let me see.
there was your two guineas, and I
gave threat least, got three from
Vernon-and Bob gave a flyer. and
Lady Massingham two pounds for
herself and one for her daughter, and
Lady Ellison two pounds fifteen-I
wish she had made it three pounds"
added Isabel plaintively, "but I sup
pose she kept the five shilAngs for
the cab there and back. as she has
had no carriage since Sir Henry died.
I forget exactly what the others gave,
but not very much, because it only
came to twenty.three pounds seven
teen altogether, including mine. It
was really much less than the bill;
but it was lovely dinner, and Bob,
who ought to be good Judge by the
amount he drinks, said the cham.
payne was really ripping"
Il suppose you put the checks all
together and sent them to the char.
ity?"
She nodded. Eyes, and then I sent
some little notes to the paper describ.
ing the dinner. and my frock and
some of the others, leaving out Lady
Massingham, Of course"
: 1T seems lot of trouble IL you re-
ceived SO little money" said; ut
would have been cheaper to send the
amount direct from yourself. especial
ly as it did not even pay the dinner"
"Oh, I couldn't afford to do that"
she answered decidedly, and. indeed,
with SO much decision that she rather
set me wondering.
l met Lady Isabel the following Sat.
urday at Ranelagh.
Il saw the account Of your party In
the paper" l said.
Yes; wasn't it nicely put?"
Very" I said drily, especially for
an amateur"
Yes, thought it was thoroughly
we'll done" she said; and knowing
what cat Lady Massingham is,
emphasized the fact that the checks
had been made out direct to the char
ity. People are so fearfully suspi-
cious," she added, with sigh, II was
even afraid they might think that
+"
you never told me Mrs. Barring
ton-Brown and Mr.. Fakenstein were
to be there" interrupted.
Didn't II" she said in astonish.
ment; how very stupid of me; but
then, they aren't people one would
remember if one could help it-are
they?"
"Why did you ask them? shouldn't
have thought they would mix very
WELL"
well, you see, they wanted SO
dreadfully to be there" she said, half
apologetically, "and Mr.. Fakenstein
was especially keen, and gave such
lot of hints when told him about it,
and said that he was SO exceedingly
interested in anything that l was
going to help that was really obliged
to invite him, and it was just the
same with Mrs. Brown"
"And how much did they contribute
to the charity?" asked, remembering
with some establishment the small
amount she told me she had received.
Lady Isabel smiled. "Those sort of
people don't really care what they
pay when they want to go to any.
thing" she answered systematically.
"And, you see, my dear Marjorie, they
did not give their money quite in the
same way as the others did," she
went on. as she slowly opened her
parasol; you see, they really got me
to invite them entirely out of good
nature, and so it was almost, a matter
Of"
business" I suggested gently.
Exactly" she replied. "How de.
lightfully you always put things, dear
est. You see, it was such an awful
bore having them there that told
them they could
"Yes," paused inquiringly.
Il told them to make the checks
both out to me-"