The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-04-11
"A social departure!"

"Yes. At Sir Miles request. You know the Trents, of Barrow End?' Miss Tarlton looked as though her friend had said-"You like pigwash, don't you?"
 'I have heard of them," she said, between set lips, 1T gather that you do not mean to ask whether they are upon my visiting-list?
 me tonight" said Mrs. Bardsley calm ly.
 Miss Tarlton's countenance was worthy of study. The three young people left their talk to observe her. Dear Mrs. Bardsley, you have al- ways a strong reason for all that you do''
 ''In this case, I certainly have. I am under a debt of great obligation to Mrs. Trent. which I will proceed to explain" She related the story of Vernon's adventure: that is, the yer sion of it which Vernon had given to the world: and concluded thus
 T felt it due to them to be invited here. I also felt that to ask nobody to meet them would be invidious. Sir Miles came to my rescue. He volun- teered to step into the breach: and he added-Ask Miss Tarlton. Her position in undssailable: and she is so skilled a society woman that she can easily evade being asked to call, or taking any responsibility in the natter"
 In silence the three stood round, watching the effect of this appeal. They saw consternation struggling with complacency upon the features of Sophia. It was moment fraught with psychological interest: broken into by the opening of the door and the sonorous voice of Brooke. the coachman, who waited at table when there was company, announcing
 "Mr. and Mrs. Trent"
 Vernon admired the courage with which Laura made her entrance. She had no idea what she might find, what reception she might encounter. But her manner was just what ir should have been, quiet, almost to the point of indifference. To the no small astonishment of Miss Tarlton, who had seen her only upon her hus- bands drag, and in company with men, and men one did not know there was breeding apparent in every movement of her pliant figure, gown ed by Worth in a dress that was as subdued as it was manifestly costly.
 Poor Dan was not so good It had been essential to frighten him a lit- tie; and his aspect, as he glanced round at the room and the company was, to say the least of it, constrain- ed. He might have found relief in plunging into agricultural questions with the two young men, but Laura had told him-it had been almost her last injunction-that before dinner he must talk to his hostess; and as he stood stiffly upright before the sofa whereon sat Mrs. Bardslex and the great Sophia, his embarrassment was very obvious.
 We feel ourselves lucky to have persuaded you out, MT. Trent" said Aunt Emma cheerfully. Mrs. Trent says you are fond of your own fire side as a rule"
 l Dan laughed uncomfortably. His innate honesty told him that this was his first chance to leave his fireside for any other at which his wife would have consented to sit. But he knew that Laura's keenness to come was only equalled by her desire to hide the fact, so he fumbled a good deal over his reply before achieving some thing about its being bit lonely, at Barrow End, for a woman who had been used to London and plenty of society.
 Sophia's lip curied. Society ir- deed! She knew very accurately what society meant. She wondered how many years had passed since the woman seated before her forfeited her place in it. She was sure that this was not a parvenue, but a de- classe-a thing more deadly, because there was some concealed story to be reckoned with
 Dan turned forlornly to Vernon, heUitating smile upon his face. Well" he said, that was a queer trip you took, wasn't it? What did your aunt think of you, alone on the roads that time of night, all unpro- tected, in a strange country?" ! Vernon smiled pleasantly, to reas- sure him. ''She thought I was very foolish girl, as you did, MT. Trent" she replied.
 "Ay, Jem brought back more than he bargained for. that day, didn't he?" chuckled MT. Trent, to whom the idea of Jem's driving home a young woman to his aunt appeared so exquisitely humorous as not to stale by repetition. And are you going to settle down in England now, or are you going back again?''
 TT haven't made any arrangements yet" replied Vernon. with a nervous feeling that both lem and NTrs Tyoo+