The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-05-21
A Bedside Talk
With Anne
was tired out.


slumber that only. very weary know.
How cosey it was to snuggle down be-
tween the sheets. | was just drifting
away into doze with the beat of
dance music still in my ears when |
heard the door creak softly and the
plump" of some one who felt like a
large cat springing on to my bed
who -why--oh, dear!" began.
TITS Anne, Amanda!V said Anne's
voice.
what on earth do you want to
come and wake me up for-is the
house on fire?"
mot exactly" said Anne's voice.
well, go back to bed" l said,
heartlessly: "if you aren't thoroughly
worn out with dancing, ! am"
'sYou didn't dance as much as I
did, either said Anne, gently
This was more than could bear.
Good night" said, shortly.
Don't be silly, Amanda; 1t isn't
good night, it's good morning. Do help
me, / really am exceedingly unhappy
II made no answer-"and don't be
horrid to me because may be Lady
st. Marie in about five minutes, or
Mrs. R. Hicks or Mrs. Graham Forbes
and won't ask you to be my brides
maid-or, If l do, l shall choose pink
hats and pink makes you look yell
low; you know 1t does"
"Anne," I said, 'you are sitting on
my feet"
ooh, poor dear, am sorry. But
never mind, you have walked up; that
is the chief thing. have got such
heaps to tell you! feel so excited,
Amanda: Lord st. Marie has asked
me to marry himi"
II congratulate you, Anne" l said
coldly.
Why you seem to take 1t for
granted jumped at him-what
horrid expression-but l didn't. l
mean stepped quietly at him, and
said. Yes, should love to be Lady
st. Mare Oh, think of 1t! No more
turned frocks, silk petticoats always,
and ermines and motors and proceed
ence." Her eyes were glib with
wonder.
Mama will be charmed" / said.
"Did you think it necessary to wake
her up to. tell her? Also, there are
heaps more people in the house
cook, for instance, and Peters and
Lizzie-why not disturb their peace
full slumbers also? Really, you might
have told me as we drove home, or
before l settled down to sleep"
Dear, darling Amanda, don't be
cross. couldn't talk on the way
home because was so worried"
"But why-why?"
"Mr. Hicks proposed to me, too"
my dear Anne, you seem to have
been a sort of Circe-but, at any
rate, you had no need to 'enchant
your wine; he is already rather like
a pig"
Eyes, isn't he? And so business
like. He made his proposal to me at
supper, between two spoonfuls of
chicken rissoles. / am not quite GER
tain that he didn't begin re matri-
mony, but he did say that he wanted,
a pretty wife to help him entertain
decent people at his big house near
Hyde Park"
"Cf course, you told him you were
going to marry Lord st. Maire?" |
said, reverting to the real subject.
Anne has a way of rushing down a
side street, metaphorically speaking,
which is annoying.
Anne sighed deeply. mo, don't"
she said. II was so delighted at the
thought of being Mrs. Croesus that
IL said Yes to him, tool"
"Anne!"
"Oh! I know it was thoughtless."
she said softly; very very careless
of me, but / have bad memory"
She looked very sweet, and quite
pathetic as she spoke-I really think
she regretted her forgetfulness, but l
was unrelenting
II think you behaved outrageously,"
said, positively abominable!"
.Oh, wait" she cried; don't use
up all those big, horrid words till you
are aware of the full extent of my
crimes. Graham Forbes also asked
me to marry him"-her eyes grew re.
miniscent "He did it very nicely-in
a balcony with big round moon
shining on us, and masses of pink and
mauve hydrangeas all over the place"
Il suppose you accepted him also"
said sarcastically.
Anne nodded her fair head. Eyes,
did" she said.
ooh! Annie" l cried. what will
you do?"
Anne stified her laughter.
"And they are all coming to lunch
con on Thursday, she said
Thursday is Peters day out. and
we never have a hot luncheon then.
Oh, dear, what will mama say?"
81 think shall tell them all I've
got the measles" she said. How
long does it take one to recover from
measles six weeks or three weeks?
Anyhow, it would give me time to
think what to do. and they would all
send me flowers and sweets in the