Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-11-21

 by being self conscious. If you'd been with me the nends might have caught on to our little game. they're so suspl. clous, but where you were they never suspected any connection between us. You're just dear." had been dear in spite Of myself. but there was no use in making fuss, now the dearness was all over. what ever l might have done If I'd known beforehand that I was to be a cats paw. Perhaps if hadn't been given the iced stun with the strawberries might have been crosser; but, fortified by that. lived up to my reputation as a dear during the half hour of the un- packing .f When my frocks all hung in row like Bluebeard's wives, in the cedar wardrobe, and was left alone with them at last. my first thought wss to plunge my imprisoned roses in water; my second, to do the same with my. self.
 The hope of tea (which hadn't been fulflleD and bath had kept me alive through those two hot hours on the dock, and now could choose between several kinds of bath. each one more luxurious than any had ever known. At home there's either the big bath. in the bathroom, or there's tub in your bedroom. so it doesn't take you long to make up your mind which you will have But here there were so many things I could do that I grew quite con fused among them.
 There was the big bath, so .hig that two of our big ones at Battlemead could have gone into it. and instead of climbing ignominiously in in the ordi- nary way you walked down several glittering white marble steps. twas very alluring, but as the marble tank was so vast feared I might have to spend all the rest of the afternoon in getting 1t full of water. It seemed impertinent to make a convenience of such a splendid, early Roman sort of receptacle for mere five minutes splash. A bath of such magnifcence ought, I felt, to be what Americans call a Junction." ceremony for which you would prepare with per fumed ointments and ambergris and protract for half a day at least, not to be wasteful. Then there was the vapor bath. which you took in kind of box with a hole for your head to stick out; a porcelain sitz bath and mysterious shower bath into which you secretively retired behind canvas curtains shaped like sentry box.
 I dared not try the vapor for fear I should be steamed like potato, the sitz seemed as inadequate as thwart- ed ambition, and to turn on the shower without knowing how much 1t could do or how soon 1t could be stopped ap- peared desperate adventure. After all. I thought, it was less worrying with us. Here, whichever thing you chose, you would probably wish you had had the other, whereas at home you did what you could and were per fectly satisfied.
 decided that I would toss up a coin; heads the big marble tank, tails the shower It came tails, and I had dreadful qualm, but, noblesse oblige, one must be sporting. So was. only the hot water wouldn't come and ap- parently there was ice in the cold, which wouldn't stop coming. and 1t was very violent. I screamed once, and Mrs. Ess Kay and Sally and Lou ise ran to the door, which was em- barrassing, but fortunately I'd locked 1t, and they told me how to stop the iced water. When 1t was all over I felt like marble statue for hours.
 Dinner was at half past z, which seemed odd in such grand palace of house, because of course at home, for some extraordinary reason unless you are in the middle classes, you never have an appetite before 8 at the very earliest. If you're in France or other countries on the continent you can be hungry sooner, and evidently it is the same in America. Perhaps, if were scientific, should be able to classify | these differences as natural phenome- na.
 I had dressed myself early and was ready a little after ', because thought 1t would be nice to sit in the fountain court, but just as I was 90 ing down Louise knocked at the door.
 T have come to help miladi and tc bring her these flowers" said she "They are with million compliment from monsieur the Lieutenant Parker 1 the brother of madame"
 But have never met him." said gazing with wonder upon a grouI (bunch is too mean word) of nam moth pink roses, with thickly leavet stems longer than walking sticks There were at least a dozen of these splendid creatures, loosely held togeth CT by trails of pink satin ribbon, wide enough for a sash. had never dream ed of such roses. I almost expected them to speak. s.
 ''Miladi and the lieutenant will nee at dinner" explained Louise. Tt is ar American custom that the messieur send always flowers to the ladies Mime. and Mile. Woodburn have re ceived bouquets also. but these rose! for miladi are the most beautiful. I It miladfs wish that unite the rib bon and take out one or two for her t carry?" .'
 I was on the point of saying "Yes, because the flowers were so lovely ant because 1t would please Mrs. Ess Kay but on second thoughts I said No,