Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-25
always meeting Surprising she
got engaged to n of those others?
Nothing was more likely, after all.
Phyllis engaged, and not to me.
-. Good Lord, how I'd loathe
CHAPTER XIV.
A SIGH FOR THE OFFICE.

A SIGH FOR THE OFFICE.
The Girls Story.
Is anything the matter with me?
Is the spring weather upsetting me?
Or am / going TO be. i'll?
Or, is 1t just that I'm an ungrateful
little beast to-to-people who are
Kindness itself? q
II ought to be. perfectly happy. i
know 1 ought. It's selfish and silly
not to be. Anyhow 1 ought to look
it. . l thought l did, at n
rate not show 1 wasn't. ~"
But this Sunday afternoon when l
went down into big basement to
fetch another jar for the tulips that
David, had Brought for me l heard
something that made me rather
ashamed of myself. Margaret. our
Welsh maid, was talking to a visitor
she'd got in the front Kitchen; some
body's cook from near home who haG
always Quarreled fearfully with our
Margaret. but who rushed to meet her
the second they were both in England
together. You know what Welsh peo-
pie are like: they'd rather have blaz-
ing rows with each. other and then
make it up in tears Ina live peaccab-
~ with the most amiable Saxons And
you know how impossible. it is MOI to
Overhear every word that's said in
clear.out Carnarvonshire accents over
kitchen tea when the maids are enjoy
ing themselves! This was the scrap
OF conversation that made me feel
rather ashamed. -
The visitors voice: Il saw that lit
tie Miss Julia when l vas coming
down the steps. Dear me, she has
gone to look sad, tool"
M%argaret's voice: Tut, girl:" (to
rhyme with putt.
The visitors voice: Indeed she
a Sorry 1 was to see the little
thing looking so sad, SO wist-ful.
She--' .-.
1 shut the pantry-door loudly and
ran upstairs again feeling annoyed
that l hadn't managed to keep my
silly feelings out, Of my face.
For the last week. or more I'd GER
tainly been in the dumps: missing
something most awfully. Missing
But what was there to miss, consid-
ering there hadn't beenanything in
my life since we've lived in London?
until got engaged, of course.
Only an occasional stroll down Ok
ford street to look in at Selfridge's
window with Grannie; only a brisk
walk sometimes in the Park when I'd
got a bad longing fol green grass and
fresh air about me; only the treat Of
a oncert at the Albert Hall .
And, Of curse, there was going to
the Office. All! 1t must be that. I re-
allied sudden My. TAX
Yes. 1t was the funny old office
that I missed so much.
. even that had been q
change from the everlasting old
house.
Ever since / left the office I've
scarcely left the house-except for
house shopping. Literally I've talked
to nobody except Grannie and David
Lewis. Which means l haven't ex-
changed a word with anybody OF my
own age. No! am not trying to
age as my Grandmother. But he is
twenty-iour years older than me-! And
sometimes l do feel I'm bursting to
talk again to somebody quite silly and
not long out Of their teens. Just for a
change. AT the office the very oldest
Of the girls (Mahel. the engaged one)
was only twenty-four. Her fiance will
be t~wenty-seven in June.
l can't help feeling that In a way
only as old as that. Cor am a
Baby-snatcher?) 1 can't help this
great big wish to seessabout me some
hairs without q single grey one and
some faces that are quite smooth and
smiley ana nnsensfbleit
l dol certainly do miss the girls
at the office! And I do miss having
something definite to take me out ev-
sty morning away from the room
ff.ssbeing done''ll and the laundry getting
put away and the 'surely-there's-a-
tea-cloth- short-her Margaret: ~ and
the did you complain about that fish
from Melton's.' and all the rest Of
those tiny domestic fusses that women
are supposed to go on living IN the
middle OF, and liking, to the end OF
ltheir days! As for me, / miss getting
on that table-napkin, OF. polishing.
Horribly ! miss the dear old Of
flee! ~
Most girls nowadays have gone cut
to work in some sort Of ofice. /.