Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-06-02

A Student Of
Languages
For the Purpose of a
SOjOurn Abroad

By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

"Lizette," said Mrs. Darlington to
her maid. who was dressing her hair,
II expect to go abroad N the autumn.
l shall go first to Italy, then to Swift
zerland, then to France. l shall get
on very well in France, because | have
learned to speak the language In talk
ing with you. | have been studying
Italian, but In order to converse In
that language l need practice In 1t such
as l have had with you In French. l
I'M thinking of getting another maid
for that purpose. Not to interfere
with you, she will have the care Of my
wardrobe and wait upon me when you
are otherwise engaged"
Twill you give her the care of your
jewels, madame?"
mot at all. You will remain In
charge of them. l have perfect conf
dence in you and would not think of
intrusting them to the carr of any n
else"
This announcement was to prepare
Lizette for the coming Of one she
might otherwise think was Intended
to take her place. Mrs. Darlington APP
piled to her Italian teacher to furnish
her with a woman who would accept
a maids place, but who could speak
Italian more correctly than one usually
occupying a mental position. He prom
ised Mrs. Darlington to interest him
self in the matter.
In due time u young woman appear
ed with IA note from Signor Speretti,
the Italian teacher, Introducing her
and vouching for the correctness with
which she spoke the Italian language.
Her name was Blanca Morelli. She
seemed rather younger than the g
she gave, which was twenty-five, not
appearing to be more than eighteen.
Instead of having the black hair and
eyes usual to Italians, she was a
blond. Since Mrs. Darlington needed
her to converse with and Signor Spe-
retti vouched for her pronunciation and
general knowledge Of the Italian Ian
guage she was engaged.
Indeed, Blanca was found not to be
of much use for any purpose except
that for which she was especially need
ed. She had nothing to do with her
mistress toilet; that was attended to
by Lizette, bus when called upon to
bring some article of clothing she man
ifested a singular obtuseness. On II
occasion when told to bring a tea
gown she brought a bath robe. On an
other, when the Italian was called
upon for d prassiere, sne fa1csafNs
brush and comb.
LiZette laughed at the girl for her
stupidity, but her mistress believed
that Blanca had not been brought up
with well to do women. She had
doubtless associated with those who
wore only the plainest clothing. But
Mrs. Darlington could not understand,
II this had been her condition, how she
could speak the language Of a well
bred person. Blanca explained by say
ing that she had had a sister.
that her parents, though they had been
well to do persons, during their child
hood and youth could not give her the
variety Of dress enjoyed by other girls
Of her class.
Blanca had not been long In the
house before her mistress began to no
tice that the relations between her two
maids had changed. Lizette had at
first rather ~patronized Blanca, sympa-
thizing with her stupidity as to heI
duties and %instructing her In them. All
of q sudden her manner toward her
fellow servant changed. The freedom
with which she had treated her disap-
peared and was replaced by a reserve.
Then, too, she was at times inclined to
speak harshly to the italian, while at
other times she would seem singularly
complacent.
Mrs. Darlington Il day spoke to
Lizette about this change.
"Lizette," she said, II know the diff
iculties Of servants constantly under
the same roof getting on with each
other, but l do hope that you and Ban
ca will not disagree. / am rapidly be
coming able to give her orders and
understand what she says to me in
Italian. Now, If you and Blanca quar-
rel / shall have to send her away,
and that will be the end of my prac-
tice In Italian. Try to get on with
her for the few months that remain
before we go abroad"
This brought no explanation of the
status between the two maids. Lizette
did not admit that there was any Ill
feeling on her part for Blanca, and she
did not deny that there was. She was
doing" her mistress hair when the
subject was preached and went on
brushing the glossy locks without a
word. But Mrs. Darlington saw by a
reflection in a mirror before her that
her maid was perturbed by what she
had said and was evidently %concealing
something.
Mrs. Darlington was more interested
In keeping her two maids on amicable
terms than in ferreting out the cause
of this singular change that had come
49, Novarfho1aCc Ghn NO