Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-11

q n nsss ~s-% essn. 3.
tions?'' Her voice died away under the
arrogance and hard scrutiny of her lis
Sener's gaze.
II don't think 1t is the least likely
said Miss Boutwell, looking her over with
great scorn.
But she came from Northumberland u
urged Hester. despairingly.
'Oh. did Shea sniff. Never heard
Of Bothwels from that part of the world
two shifts
Wretched Hester. who had understood
from Jane that her mothers family were
the Bothwells, whose pedigree extended
from the Picts and long before the Nor
man conquest,
Where do your family come from? -
she ventured to inquire.
1T does not concern Won" replied little
Miss Boutwell,. drawing up her thin neck
and confronting Hester with a pair of
malignant eyes. "Who are you? You
have never been introduced to mel have
nj wish for Your acquaintance" GA
companion trying to tack herself on tn
u.s.. she said. when subsequently boast
Ing OF Hester's defeat and collapse. 1.-The
idear')
'Snuh YOU, what nonsense" exclaimed
Mrs Tudor AT any rate, I shall intro
uuC" Won 10 NUMBERS OF people, ana
hone You VIII talk and not merely say.
How do You like Biarritz? How long
have YOU been here? AT what hotel are
Eou staying?'-the usual conversation.
And above all You must dress. At pres
ent can only call you clothed You see
my dear: i am terribly plain-spoken old
woman"
But what YOU say is true" said Hes
Ter; II know ] am frightful scarecrow.
Int unfortunately 7 have no taste. or
what is called the dress sense"
Mrs Tudor glanced at the waterproof
coat. the ugly top-heavy hat, the hideous
black and gray necktie. and sighed as she
renlied:
But Mrs Rritten knows all about it
she ought to have taken you to a dress
maker the very hour You arrived. Now
II YOU will place yourself in my hands
VIII accompany you to Madame Guise
and order YOU some frocks at once
Thank Eou-yOu are too kind to take
all this trouble for me-" said the heiress,
gratefully.
Not at ALL my dear: 7 am lust an idle
old woman-indeed. many people think me
most meddlng and OfficiOuS Frankly 1t
Will amuse me to see what dress can do
for YOU You will soon find A great diff
ference; to feel we'll turned out acts like
tonic and gives surprising confidence.
A badly dressed woman especially In a
short skirt. will stink into room to
hold an important interview with a sense
OF helpless inferiority and uneasiness:
armed with courage. self-appreciation
and decision-and probably carry all be-
fore her But / grant you that these
soignes costumes run away with great
dea! OF time and money. Besides frocks
Won will require hats parasols wraps.
frills and all sorts of things What was
good enough for Shalesmoor will never do
for BiarritZ"
Yes. I know that" humbly assented
her companion.
For some moments there was a dead
silence. broken only by the clip-clop Of
the horses hoofs as they trotted along
Fa,afse-and out into the open country
with the sea on the right hand and the
Pyrenees in the distance
Presently Mrs Tudor continued her lee
ture: "And besides being we'll dressed
you must begin to realize your position.
and not live In a hugger-mugger fashion
stealing about the hotel and the PLACE as
If YOU were ashamed to be SEEN"
ITO tell you the truth. am afraid to
he noticed: 1 am SO plain. so gauche and
insignificant: am indeed I have no re-
markable accomplishments: I cannot even
talk amusngly like other people,
1T is not so easy to talk amusingly'
as You suppose" rejoined Mrs. Tudor;
but at any rate. you can always listen;
it is a great accomplishment to listen
athetically-especially to men. AS a
II is to him an unfailing source Of inter-
est: but as soon as you begin to talk of
yourself-unless he is in love with you
he Immediately becomes bored
"Then. from what you tell me. CONVEX
sation with men is not very difficult
We'll it depends a good deal upon the
man. Can You dancer?
Yes. ] had lessons at school-that is.
ten years ago: I loved Waiting. but I
have never been to a dance in all my
life
Gracious powers" calculated Mrs.
Tudor: then I shall take you to your
frst partv and I'll introduce you to the
LOTUS girls at once. They often dance
of an evening in the little salon with half
dozen friends-they are really charm
ing
oh Mrs Tudor, I am much too staid
for those pretty young things. I am
nothing but a dull nonentity. believe
You Will he heartily sorry II you bring
me into prominence: shall only do some
thing shocking and uncouth and cover
You with disgrace"
mo. no. You won't; am not afraid
Your affairs will take me out OF myself
and keep me from dwelling on age and
aches; they will give me fine stimulus;
your career will interest me enormously
yes. and do me credit too. Will you
promise to place yourself unreservedly in
my hands and not so to speak. interfere
or kick?'
Hester laughed-quite a young merry
laugh
Well. in the first place" resumed
Mrs. Tudor. leaning back a little further
III tHt ana clearing ner throat.
Yes. in the first place" repeated the
girl. what are your commander"
you must abolish Mrs. Britten; she Is
doing you no good get rid Of her imme-
diately."
"Oh. I'm afraid that will be impossible. -
reioined Hester. with an air of convic-
ton.
Not at all. She will. unless I am
greatly mistaken. soon find another COM
panion."
do you mean that she will marry
some One?'
Clever girl, Well. another important
step will be to engage a coiffeur to dress
Your hair every day. and make 1t look
like what It really is-beautiful''
'Beautiful-my hair beautiful! Now,
Mrs Tudor. you are making fun of me.
Why, my hair is red"
TT is. and I promise that in one week
you Will scarcely know yourself-that Is,
" YOU will give me carte blanche"
am sure you are only too kind to
trouble yourself about me-
Which means yes Very we'll. there
Is no time Ike the present. and she
called out to the driver, who pulled up his
horses while he received her directions In
fluent French. and. in accordance with
these. turned his steeds homewards. 81
am always woman OF action" she ex-
planned. and we will merely drive round
by the Rois de ROulOgne and get back In
time TO interview Madame Guise and buy
You respectable hat-that thing on your
head may he thrown away: not a lady's
Madame GuiSe was delighted to receive
ri al Hs,,Io