The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-04-21
youth between the flaming flowers.

youth between the flaming flowers.
There was greeting and chatter, and
apologies that they had had to come
so far to find her; Mrs. Bardsley join
ed them, and for a few minutes moth
ing was spoken of but asparagus and
early peas, and the Flower Show, and
the effect upon the apple-blossom Of
the late sharp frost.
Then Selma began. 'eNow to tell
you why we have come, and what has
ordinary! All the Buns have sudden
ly arrived upon the scenes and are
to spend the summer at the Court
Tho Buns were, as may be sup
his lordship, her ladyship, and the
Misses and Messieurs Noble.
do you know what they want to
DOR said Selma. "They want to in
duce Miles to marry that gawky Ade-
laide. They have already asked us
to dinner! Oh Miles, you will have
to be so CAREFUL
Selma" said Miles, sometimes I
wonder if you really are my sister.
You are so surprisingly vulgar"
eff am, then so is Lady Bunbury.
She called on me-Adelaides mann
ma, not the Dowager-yesterday aft
ernoon, before they had been two
days here, and she almost said in SO
many words that an alliance between
satisfaction to her. And she is going
to send invitations for two big gar
den parties, and they are asking n
house party of friends, and want to
have tennis tournaments and all kinds
of things. And now Miles says we
must have d garden party too, be-
cause it doesn't SO much matter my
not being out, and"
NOW be quiet, Selma" said her
brother with authority. cit is really
about that I came to consult you,
Mrs. Bardsley. If give garden
party, what about asking the Trents?"
Mrs. Bardsley looked quite aghast.
ooh my dear Miles, how difficult for
you'll" she said igravely. People
won't like it at all if you do
But" said Miles, surely one asks
everybody at a garden party. Bun
bury does-constituents and so no.
Nobody is introduced; and you know
h 70
THAT would only make it worse"
said Mrs. Bardsley, ''for I certainly
could not introduce her to anybody.
Neither could you. 1t is not as if her
own friends were to be there. If you
were giving a garden party of con-
stituents and so on, some of her ac-
quaintance would be invited. But I
conclude that in such a party as you
plan, she would be the only out
slider"
practically, yes,"
"You can't do it, Miles. Take my
advice and don't risk it. Suppose Dan
Trent got introduced to anybody's
daughter-what would be said? No;
you can't have them. Is it nice or
kind to ask them into a crowd of
people all bent upon cutting them ?"
Its very narrow-minded and dis
gushing" said Miles Indignantly.
at may be. But you and I can't
alter the whole constitution of society
as it exists. The present idea among
country folks in England is to have
acquaintance as like themselves as
can be managed. Perhaps in a few
years time it will only be thought
interesting to know those who differ
from you, who are as unlike as pos
sible. If you want to tilt against
social barriers, do so by all means,
but I warn you that if you do you
must give your life to it. And some
how 1 do think Mrs. Trent is bad
example to begin with, because to
own the truth, she seems to me per-
sonally Objectionable, and would serve
to point the moral-to emphasize the
need for exclusiveness"
Exclusiveness! The exclusiveness of
people like the Bunburys-people
without an idea, without beauty or
brains or wit, or anything else to
recommend them, SO far as one can
see."
Mrs. Bardsleys eyes \ twinkle0.
''They have the one great essential"
she said; you know what to expect
of them. They will not surprise you.
You know their code, and they can
be depended upon to act up to it.
That is no bad thing in social deal
ings. Have YOU not something a lit
tie like it in the world of sport? Is
there not an institution called the
Jockey Club, which determines the
basis of things? And in cricket, too