The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1922-12-26
lT,s lie PlN PRIcks THAT HuRr

! = I - II
Chapter 32
| often scolded myself for allowing
so many things to worry me. Mrs.
Page was critical "neddling'' | called
it in by thoughts The dog annoyed i
toy dog "Fido" | felt like THROWING {
things Jennie's complaints about
waiting on dog and cranky old wo.
man worried me, as it would be i'm /
possible for me to take any sort of
care of Mrs Page suit her in any
way should Jennie leave me.
Mrs. Page, knowing l had but one
maid, expected the service and the
style of a well equipped household
with many servants. She never con-
doned the slightest thing because Of
lack of help. And since her slight
illness she had been even more diff
cult. At times | was almost in de-
spair. Only TO Claire Gordon did I
speak of this, however, although ]
knew Grace Harter was aware of it.
Her sharp inquisitive eyes missed
nothing
Then at times ] was terribly anxious
about Walter. Obsesaed with the idea
that he was with Helen Ralstrom more
than it was wise for him to be-know-
ing his temperament The demands
Of his mother kept NE from being with
him as much as | might otherwise
have been and held this against her,
so increasing my dislike for her.
When she first came Walter had
been very punctilious. had come to his
| meals PROMPTLY, or eiven a good ex
cuse. He had taken Us out often and
otherwise been the dutiful son. But,
as the weeks went by, this attitude
irked him-I saw it plainly-and he
often remained out late Then, Il
/ either she or | spoke of it, he would
/ become impatient. Her presence in
/ the house was an Old story to him
One morning she had been unusual
/ ly difficult, had angered Jennie, and
/ had found fault with me, my manage
ment of the house, my lack of know!-
/ edge of the more elaborate matters
/ pertaining TO home keeping. When
/ she talked in that way I never made
+ any reply. | knew my faults were
many, but with one maid l could not
/ satisfy her and what was the use of
/ discussing the thing until we both be-
came annoyed. Naturally there were
=, some points of household etiquette
| with which | was unfamiliar. l had
been brought up i'll simple homely
fashion, and while ! had learned mucn
| since living in New York, l still had
much to acquire before | would be
what she called a perfect hostess"
AS she was in the midst of telling
! me what l should do the bell rang AMI
Claire Gordon breezed in
4 Il have come to take you down 90
/ see Mrs. Eldredge again, Doreen," she
said.
Take Mrs. Page instead I said
"She will enjoy the ride and also meet
ing Mrs. Eldredge." l gave Claire q
/ pleading look, which she at once un.
: derstood
do come, Mrs. Page" she urged
I'm sure you will be delighted with
my dear invalid
Thank you. it will be a pleasure tc
get away for few hours" she replied
. with whitening glance at me. "I
/ will give Doreen an opportunity to d,
2 some of the things we have talked of;
L insist upon that maid of hers knowine
r her place for one thing"
2 Does any servant know that now
j.. adays?" Claire returned with gay
laugh. Ours doesn't. Mother gets al
. most frantic at times, and talks of tn,
r old days before the Nyar-iong before
when servants were devoted to thei
: employers, willing and efficient l
: must be a problem when one can keeI
: but one maid" Then: 81 don't wan
o to hurry you, but Mrs. Eldredge is S,
f disappointed if | do not spend som
: time with her, we'd better start"
: Mrs. Page left the room to put oi
her wraps, and Claire said gIeefully:
Il didn't give her q chance TO ans