Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-09

of happiness than such surroundings; with
a long uninterrupted morning in which to
concerning the ladies under discussion,
whom she secretly considered the elect OF
earth.
Lady Channel Fleet, conscious of having
had more honors paid to her in America
than in the whole course of her undistin-
guished life at home, was proportionately
inclined to be critical of Americans now
she had come away. Her structures upon
their extravaganza in living, which she
had enjoyed to the top of her bent. the
largeness of their houses and the small
ness of their grounds, their ridiculous way
of running after strangers and the extra
ordinary Interchange of matrimonial part
ners among people one knew and visited,
were interspersed with various bits of gos-
sip she had been able to pick up in En-
gland concerning American peeresses who
had not received her at their houses AID
were, indeed, unconscious of ner existence
1t had been rather bitter pill for Mrs.
Vereker, who was hand-in-glove with all
these fine people both III England and New
York, to have TO listen politely to Lady
Channel Fleet. But, then, Mrs. Vereker had
already stood so much in the line of in
civility from the British DANES of high
place upon whom she had lavished courtesy
during their sojourn in the land of the
free that she was little hardened She
knew tina on arrival out she would go from
Claridge's to stop at country houses where
Lady Channel Fleets star would never even
family rise. She was secure In being able
to buy herself good time and the best OF
everything wherever she might go, and
felt, on the whole, content Miss Blocker,
on the contrary, who had no such solid
foundations as her friend felt in listening
to Lady Channel Fleet as acutely panied
as If she were reading one of MI Benson
or Mr. Hicbens novels, wherein modern
Americans of good society are made to say
pepper and "real nice She could hard
ly imagine how her nation could arise
to ignoring these dreadful accusations
I'd, al IA l.
dentally let fall that she always pre-
sunaed Miss Blocker, from her speech
and manner, to be an Englishwoman
born, Miss Blocker had forgiven all
She redoubled her powers of entertain
ingness, brought out q few newer, rac1er
anecdotes of persons known to all or
them, and the luncheon bugle had caught
the gossips unawares, making them feel
the morning quite too short
II suppose we shall see you at Mr..
vereker's little supper this evening,
Lord Clandonald?' said the chaperon.
the way of private dainties when Mr..
Vereker entertains-game. wines, pates,
caviare put up for him on the Volga,
glass houses. and such turtle soup as
only the Vereker chef can send aboard.
And to think the poor man has to sit at
the head Of the table. drinking milk and
swallowing little tablets out Of his waist
coat pocket, looking gray as ghost,
and thin as a rail. not able to touch q
thing of all his delicious sDread!
Mr.. Vereker has been SO good as to In
clude me-" answered Clandonald.
II believe most Of those at our table are
expected" the lady went ON, in hardly
lowered voice. with, Of course, one or two
exceptions. When Mr.. Vereker crosses
alone they say his parties are apt to be a
| little mixed. But with his wife, aboard
she is SO thoroughly exclusive, one need
never fear
What might have beef omitted from the
words was accumulated by a manner OF
contempt whose objects there was no mis-
taking. Mr.. Winstanley, as usual, appeared
not to be listening to the passing chat, but
| his daughter lost not q syllable or look;
Helen Carstairs, also, fully appreciated the
| situation. While Posey, with rare self
control, kept her own counsel and remained
silent. Miss Carstairs. flushing family.
spoke 30 that all present could hear her.
I'm afraid I'm one of those who fail to
appreciate the honor Of Mr.. Verekers in
vitations. ashore or ahoat. Who was 1t
who said to be left out by him was q
greater compliment than to be placed at a,s
Helen, I'm surprised to hear you talk
| such nonsense" began her chaperon brisk
| ", but was interrupted by Posey Win
stanley, who with q grateful glance at
I Helen spoke In tones as quiet and meas.
| ured as her own.
| "Then / am certainly past getting the
benefit of Miss Carstairs' hint, Miss
| Bleecker since Mr.. Vereker asked me first
| before seeingti II he could get the others,
| and I was rash enough to accept"