Atlanta Georgian., 1914-03-01
American Sunday Monthly Magazine Section

the girls at their ease. Jenny was thankful
to see that Mrs. Grant was not in the room
"Well, here's jolly little dish of scram-
bled eggs shouted Archie. Never mind
about introductions! You're all nice girls.
In a moment Archie was the centre of a
chattering, laughing, noisy bunch, while
Eustace shyly advanced to greet Jenny who
was standing on the threshold speechless
with Indignation at her friends behavior.
| I'm SO glad you met my mother" he
/ said
I'm not" snapped Jenny, watching
nervously for solecisms on the part of her
friends.
"Would you like to see her for few min
utes in her own room?" asked Eustace.
No, | wouldn't said Jenny, jerking
Elsie Crauford the only girl within reach,
out of the group, and asking her whether she
thought she was in the Zoo or a drawing
room.
"Let me alone" said Elsie Archie
says we're to make as much noise as we like.
And SO did you. So now, you spiteful
thing"
Jenny nearly choked with rage, and
scarcely knew how she was going to restrain
herself from boxing somebody's ears in a
minute.
you're so different from your friends"
murmured Eustace languishingly Il don't
believe | should feel nearly as shy, if could
talk to them"
"Weli, go and talk to them" said Jenny.
II don't want you to stand there making
monkey faces at me-"
Eustace looked at her for one moment to
see if she meant what she said, and then
plunged into the noisy group. Jenny was
amazed. Was this the tongue-tied idiot
who had bored her through weary evening
at the Paragon? Was this the spoilt dar-
ling of fond mother? Then indignation
friends overcame everything else, and she
stood speechless with fury, yet powerless to
quell the noise. She had come here to
shock Eustace out of his fondness for the
theatre, yes, but she had not come here to
see Eustace emulating Archie in his cool
encouragement of her friends to turn his
house into a harequinade. There was
! Maudie Chapman doing ballet-danCe with
large pink lamp-shade round her waist.
That was the limit. And there were Madge
Wilson and Gladys Walker waltzing with
Eustace in the middle of them. That was
beyond joke. And there was Irene kissing
Archie and Elsie Crauford inviting Eustace
to hold up ArChies hat for high kicking 1t
was too much 1t was outside anything
dreamed of in the widest nightmare. And
to put the lid on the whole lamentable
affair, there was the footman with a silver
saver of tea a-things and Mrs. Grant entering
close at his heels!
Jenny surveyed the disgraceful scene in
one "perishing look" as she afterward de-
scribed her glance, and fled from the room
down the stairs, out of the house and into a
bus.
On Monday she received note from Mrs.
Grant.
IT'S Lancaster Gate
DEAR Miss PEARL,
| think you treated very unkindly by introduce
ing my poor boy to all those very vulgar girls. have
forbidden Mr.. Archibald Hughes to to my
house again l sorry that lady to whom took
such fancy should SO grossly deceive
Yours truly,
EUsTAsIA GRANT.
"Lady?" queried Jenny, pursing up her
lips. ooh, she means me. Daffy old crow!
That's the last time I'll ever try and do any
thing for anybody. You don't get any thanks
for it.
AS for the girls in the dressing -room
Jenny scared them with scathing remarks
which she had thought out during Sunday
evening and the whole of Monday.
But the girls were maddeningly oblivious
of them, and said cheerfully that they were
going out with Eustace in a motor-car, and
going to supper with Eustace and on the
river with Eustace.
a.. IL.