Show raw shell JA ROMANCE i ide CHAPTER vi shell Is in the now almost disused of the wilderness dusting delicate china tea cups with a clean glass cloth she Is singing at the top of her fresh 5 oung voice olce i its aa she usually does aen when working alone oh here you are at last cries ruby entering the room with it vic air I 1 have been searching all over the house for aou ou VI 11 ho ei ever er would dream of 0 finding you down here at the end of this long anybody with nith an atomon sense cense answers shell bluntly it if you insist upon asking ashing about fifty people to a garden part parta with only two servants some 13 0 m 0 one M must give ghe them a helping hand 11 absurd afternoon tea Is no trou brou ble but if you chiolo cheole to encourage their laziness of couise they are willing enough to let out ou I 1 shell makes no deply cieply but placidly pr proceeds with her dusting VI and I 1 want you up stairs continues ruby in a different tone we hai have e decided to v weal cat those mullins muslins we had for the flower show only they want altering a little and some now new laces tacking on all right only I 1 cant come just now nom assents shell readily the flowers have to be gathered and arranged vet and cook is steeped to her eye brows in bahea I 1 promised to help her as soon as I 1 hid finished these oh but the must bo be lone done first I 1 ill feather tile the flowers it feces sary saas ruby in the voice of a 11 martyr ma I 1 ei even ell though going out in the heat aleays does docs give me a headache shell reluctantly complies and Is occupied for nearly an hour then having baying still miny household matteis on her wild she bhe rises to take her departure don t go 3 vet et 3 iou ou know how low I 1 ab hor this sort of work said ruby filial ply her ber only A work ork so tar far has con slated elated in watching A shells dett deft needle darting darling to and fro dut ruby I 1 must the tennis courts want marking and I 1 must keep my promise to cook oh we tie can manage now quite clutte belll I 1 remarks violet cheerily by the way nay shell what are sou going to wear looking up with sudden interest 1 I oh ob I 1 dont know ehnow I 1 haven t though tl I 1 returns shell caie lessly my white serge will do as well ns its anything at anc rate it is ivady don t m wear ear stuff it looks so hot besides that serge looks horrid since it ni was as washed objects VI who lilies likes shell to wish that she should appear at her best my dear VI don t waste advice on shell you know how self opinionated she is besides with a slight ing of her she to is such a child it really t matter much what she wears just juet so BO assents shell shutting the floor door behind her hut but all the same bamo she goes away avay feeling rather sole at heart tor for there IA 16 no small amount of contempt in rub a tone 1 hough albough her eldest sister has assigned her age Bs as a reason for her arcs not mattering she knows knovs full well that the tone also insinuates a vast want vant of personal onal at tr actions too yet eyet it she only knew it she has a charm all her ov oni n the charm of a genial spirit and a warm impulsive heart beart which peeps out of ber cleir gray green ea eves es and lingers amid t the dimples of 0 her crimson lips all that long summer afternoon there Is no thought of self in the girl a conduct she flits about finding footstools and seats for old ladles getting pins and bresli flowers for gills who liae have come imperfectly provided and generally malting making herself useful when will you be ready for tennis I 1 asks robert champley who has been watching her though unseen for the past ten minutes 1 I am not going to play answers shell brightly as sho she hurries across the lawn iaan with a sunshade for an old lady who has left her own at home and now finds li eiselt incommoded by the ardent gaze of king sol but everybody says bays aou ou play so well and yet I 1 have never seen ou touch a racket he urge s with a smile on her return perhaps that is how low I 1 keep my reputation laughs shell gaily no but really I 1 like to watch good play you might be ba obliging pleads pleada her companion aruth I 1 ruth to tell he Is beginning to take a a deep interest in shell probably owing to the fact that she bhe seems to take no interest wha whatever teNer in him well I 1 will be ref responds ponds shell with a curious little smile and then walking straight up tip to an exceedingly pretty girl dressed in pole pale pink pinic she bhe says gravel nola noia dear mr air champ ley Is most anxious to meet with some one who plays tennis really well so I 1 thought I 1 coulden couldn t to do better than bring him to you mr champley miss nora fretwell rr etwell and with a little nod cod she proceeds placidly on oil her way having so BO disposed of 0 tei lei cavalier five minutes later she is i accosted by led ian lant t it a jolly afternoon atte he be gins yes yea only rather arm agrees shell pushing her pallor bailor hat bat a little farther oft off bet brow como come into the sl ade and lot let rue me ran fan you suggest tg rod red coaxingly HOM very kind scoffs shell but 1 I think I 1 wont moat accept it sounds so BO much nicer than it really la is I 1 I 1 anning only nial mal es ea one holtei anti and tin the midges are in III tile salad 11 it seeing tro possible benei to say or suggest the thing to 3 ou says saya ted with boyish boish trap allence it I 1 have hae been rude I 1 am very sorry borry shell returns thoughtfully but all tho the same it la Is true sou know fanning 01 only cools one for the moment and one la in ten tell times hotter at ter wards As she shonka she bhe saunters on a few steps by ills hla side that she may not appear too pointedly iiii unsociable iso dj the i vay ay I 1 had almost forgotten ermila tel laughing dob bob and meg chaigen me with a commas comila sion elon I 1 am entrusted with a mysterious packet which I 1 faithfully promised to deliver into bour our own hands banda and from his pocket he pio produces duces a small and remarkably renar kably clumsy parcel tied up with a bit of colored 1001 wool I 1 think there must be some mistake says bays shell looking at the proffered offering superciliously they probably meant it for rub ruby on the contrary I 1 was particularly particular li cautioned not to entrust it to your slater elster laughs led 1 I believe it Is of an edible matuie find and they feared the temptation might ie be too great shell takes the packet reluctantly find and standing still for a moment in the pathway cautiously opens it displacing pla ing to view some borne half doen chocolate creams of a decidedly crushed and not very tempting appearance for a moment a beautiful and gentle smile lights up her every feature then sho she remembers with a start the part she la Is acting and asks scornfully whit on earth induced them to send mo me these things they probably thought you would appreciate them poor childr eril answers ted rather hotly I 1 they got a box as a this morning and t give mo me any peace until I 1 consented to biang you over oner some I 1 wish i aryh indignantly that I 1 had thrown them away on the road it certainly would have been wiser retorts shell as she ruthlessly tosses the small bunte aray amlet a clump of shrubs children have such odd fancies 1 I don t call that an odd fancy 1 I call it a generous impulse collects ted stolidly I 1 by tile the way may looking at her keenly ahall I 1 tell them the fate of their poor little present As aa you please ans cis shell cire leesey and then knowing the pain that would mould be antl inflicted feted by such a ren ree elation she adds no I 1 think perhaps you had bad better not some people imagine thit that children are sensitive anti I 1 levu no wish to wound their feelings in case they possess any 1 in case they possess ans repeats ted positively lushing flushing with nith mingled anger and contempt you must be nery ery dense it if you vou have not yot yet dis oneice that choso chil children dien aro are of a keenly nervous temperament 11 1 I know I 1 am dense admits shell mith ith not tile the faintest show of annoy anee or resentment As for children I 1 dont don t profess to understand them probably because I 1 have no sympathy with them ted walks on beside her in thoughtful silence it seems to him a iad bad pity that shell who villo used to be such i genial sunny little creature cie aturo should have changed into the hard callous being now talking to him lie ile would like to account for the phenomenon in some way and Is contemplating the possibility of asking her it if cho has ha been crossed in love when their tete la Is cut short by mrs wilden shell dear sa sas a that lady in a troubled tone 1 I you would run la in and see to the making of the coffee it la Is sure not to bo be pio properly perly cleared it if you are not dot there mr champley Cham will excuse you I 1 am sure he be knows that wo we cannot afford efficient servants ll 11 1 I am only too delighted to find that england still possesses young youn ladled who A ho are not above making themselves useful answers ted in a bantering teasing tone there Is s nothing I 1 admire so much as domesticity in a wo woman man most of our girls are getting so BO blue blua that it will be a blue look out for their husbands yes indeed murmurs mrs wll wil du den as shell with a little toss of her head walks away dear shell Is most l not very ornamental orni mental but very useful thoroughly domesticated and such a gentle kind hind crea bire I 1 often wonder how I 1 should get on without her in the meantime ruby huby at the other side aide of the lawn la Is listening to a piece of intelligence which causes her cheeks checks to turn pale whilst sho she flutters her fan with increased energy you think the dear children need change she Is saving in a tone of bewilderment 1 I thought they looking remarkably well and the pets are always alays in such euch excellent spirits mog meg Is not ft v ell answers the father 14 ell 1 7 0 WM d ectal velly she seems languid languid and leavy eavy th the e air here to Is very relaxing relating dut ing the hot mouths months I 1 think I 1 shall ball take her to scotland 1 4 4 w oh ob ilot ot to Scotland poor child the 9 journey would be so BO dreadfully fatiguing pleads ruby as she aha thinks with alth consternation 0 of the impossibility ot of inducing her mother to permit her to go so far from ho metor already her quick brain has haa formed a plan tor for following the children yes it might be trying for BO be young a child agrees mr air champley thought i fill fulli 1 in that case I 1 must be content with the tha moors or the north devon coast 11 1 I should just beep her at home and send het aci do down n by tho the sea eoa every morning sla bac i air Is always bracing ot of ruby with a feeble hope that her nd adelco ice may be taken Mud mouth Is a the of br bracing corrects her companion decidedly I 1 besides it to is riot not only the air aletho r the chil children drou wank wan a complete ahn change ot 09 courso course you know best admits nuby ii alth ith a reluctant and despondent sigh but I 1 always think that children ais aie happier at home than anywhere pise else that depends remarks robert champley vaguely and with a sharp sigh oh aes eg of coursel course 1 agrees ruby huby eagerly ea gerl then afeei a moment she continues slowly however trustworthy servants may be they cant can t understand eer thing do i 3 ou mean that the children are in rny way neglected he ablis quickly oh dear not laughs ruby with a pla tul tit head shake ahlke I 1 I 1 am sure their auise la Is most atten the lie from all accounts but sou ought not for ln stance to allow her to choose their clothes of course bhe ahe has no idoa idea how to dress them th how should she poor woman I 1 they seem very sensibly clothed to rno mel robert champley but in rather it a dubious tono tone lu in fact a tone open to conviction As long as they are maim and comfortable the cut of much importance dut my dear mr dir champley how can poor meg be comfortable in a drosa dress that allows of 0 no tree free play of the limbs Chil children dien ought never to be hampered by their clothing Is meg hampered almost tortured I 1 should think in her last dress As tor for dob he ought to be dressed sailor fashion now doar dear me what am I 1 to do asks aska robert champley half mocking halt in earnest I 1 I 1 tell 3 ou what ahat 1 l BH a ruby sudden ly 1 I will make clothes for each of 0 them as a pattern now please dont protest it will only lie be like the tun fun of dressing dolls to me of course mr air Cli champley ampley does protest but as usual lie ile protests pio tests in vain and when ho be takes his departure from the wilderness that evening he ha finds himself weighed down bv 0 n TI obligation to ruby wildon As tor for I 1 ruby she Is in cicat spirits the only thing whim her in the matter Is her total incapacity either to cut out or to make the clothes in III question seo see ing that in reality she eho knova far less how low children should bo be dressed than the nurse whose tastes sho she has beet been critic laing to bo be continued |