OCR Text |
Show V TIIL SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, SUNDAY MORNING, JANUARY Gfhe 30, 1927. By Test of a Gentlewoman "I mot a now boy," said Polly after a mo mint, pulling q pink georgette combination from the belter skelter ot her suitcase. Modern Youth and the Conservative Older Generation Find They Agree on One Thing Sportsmanship . kOLLY wriggled swiftly into her Nil Croon bathing suit, while Aunt Serena " I know you did." said Aunt Serena. The girl turned quickly. "Tou know I did? Can you see the pier. from here?" " No. said Aunt Serena briefly. " I came out to watch you swim. I I saw you. Polly. I saw you with my eyes. I came back, that's alL I couldn't bear It." " Tou couldn't bear what? Pony's brows creased themselves In an uncomprehending frown. Said Aunt Serena sternly! I saw I saw you lying In his arms Tou were lying wantonly in his arms. " I was not lying wantonly, What do you mean by wantonly? " " I mean wantonly. It's a good English word and It applies. Tou were half dressed and so was he. Tou had your " We were both dressed for what we were doing. said Polly. " Tou were dressed for swimming, my dear. Tou were not dressed for lying in a , young man's arms. Polly laughed, though a little uneasily. " If I hadn't been swimming, she said. " I wouldn't have been lying in his arms." " That seems obvi-ouher aunt remarked. "And the worst of it is that you were doing this In plain sight of any one, in broad open day". light "Would you rather have me do it in the dark? ths girl asked with a crooked little smile. ' " Tes. Under certain condition "Under what conditions, Auntie? The older woman glared. Then: "Tou are trying to make light of this, Polly. I will not have you make light of it It is a serious matter. A wom- watched bar with an expression in which affection, gentle amusement. tolar- anoe and a ellght dlemay were iomewhnt equally blended. Per hope envy peeped out from those kindly, middle aged eyes, aa well; the falnteat trace ot a wistful sort of envy. For Polly was young. And Polly was very, very pretty. Not much to it, la there? " Aunt Serena commented, emlllng at the knitted green sheath. fastened the shoulder button. Polly -It's sensible, said Polly in defense ofIts a lot more eenslher single garment - bis thkn the Kind people wore when you were a glrL - no argument about that said Aunt Serena calmly. " We used to have to wear why, Just yards and yarda And it all got wet and clammy and wrapped Itself around you. Tea, this Is more sensible. But still it seems to me that a short taffeta oversUp would be lust as easy to swim In and at the same time a little more well, a little nicer. More more feminine. "I'm perfectly feminine, stated Polly, standing poised before her aunt. Tbs older woman smiled. " Quite obviously feminine, she agreed In her quiet voice. "But that Isnt quite what I meant, my dear." Polly's byes sparkled. She riggled gleefully and said, " Auntie, youre a scream." " I believe I am, said Aunt Serena blandly. "In fact. I'm quite eonVnoed that a an's reputation" number of my ideas are somewhat old fashPolly said: "As I reioned. But then, somebody has to be old member the quotation, fashioned or nobody'd be new fashioned. Now your character is what take your cloak and run down to the pier. you really are. Tour Pont stay In till you're chilled. Trot along reputation is what a hear me? This isn't a lecture tour. It'S lot of boobs think you a spree." are." Here she colored Polly snatched up her cloak of Nile green quickly. "I don't mean silk, flung it about her shoulders and pirouthat you're a boob. etted before her aunt. Then she kissed tbs Auntie. Youre any- - e older woman impulsively and flicked out of thlng else on earth. the room. But If you'd Just A pretty place, thought Aunt Serena. Just thought of asking me the spot for a two or three days rest. The Instead of trying to tell hotel was fair enough, too; nothing much out of the ordinary, but well kept and dean. " What, do you want Presently Aunt Serena sighed anew She me to ask you? said was pursuing her thoughts afleld She Serena' with dignity. thought of her own husband, Jed Thatchell, "I want fou to ask who had died ten long years ago. She disme why I was lying In missed that thought hurriedly and snatched his well, anna" at another. This time, by an effort of mind, Aunt Serena rose she thought of Polly's mother, Polly's charmand walked to the wining and foolish mother who had died the dow. ' She looked out same year as Jed. That- - had left Polly to momentarily at the Aunt Serena. She had done all she could. lake with Its encircling And when Aunt Serena did all she could, it walls of green. Then was, although she didn't know It, considershe came back and , able. She had chosen Polly's schools. She stood before her niece. had chosen Polly's friends. And each sumIt doesn't matter mer, from folly's tiny girlhood up, she bad why you were lying in given a full month to taking Polly on what his arms, said Aunt she called tbelr spree. In the old days it Serena kindly. The had meant a month at some resort. Now, with automobiles so constructed that they thing that matters la were that you doing so. . didn't break down at every odd corner, it meant piling into one of the things with a Tou shouldnt have been doing so, Polly. mass of luggage behind and just stepping on the gas, letting ths roads and their whims I suppose not. Only . guide them and stopping each night where r you see nightfall or their desires might find them. I see nothing except that you were lying t She seized In plain public view In a young man's arms. motoring hat of taupe felt, cupped it definitely and firmly over her And neither of you adequately dressed. graying hairs, filnped the end of her nose " He's a peach, said Polly at this point. once and with Just strode Polly's powder puff "That has nothing to do with his attire," to the door. "IU go out and watch her His attire Aunt Serena reminded her. swim, said Aunt Serena to herself. That's was, to say the most, sketchy. better than mooning by a window." " So was mine, said Polly. , On the end ot the pier sat a young man in " Im glad you admit It," Aunt Serena oba bathing suit. His back was toward her, his back and two bronzed shoulders and a served. " Even that acknowledgment indicates that you are not totally lost. ruddy neck. Against the young man's side snuggled Polly, Nile green costume, bare An expression ot bewilderment showed in knees and all. The young man was bending the girl's eyea over Polly tenderly. One of his arms held " I know you are not trying to insult me. her. And one of Polly's arms was flung Auntie," she said, "but for goodness' sake about the young mans neck. do be careful. Do you want to toll me what Aunt Serena stared, while her Jaw opened you mean by totally lost? " " If you must know the truth," said her slowly in complete stupefaction. For seconds that seemed minutes she stared. Then she aunt, I don't want to tell you anything. wheeled with vehemence and stalked beck This this interview, if you want to call it to ths hotel. She clumped upstairs, fumbled that, is exactly as unpleasant for me as it half blindly at the latch of the bedroom door. is for you, my dear. It ia only that certain Her neat motoring hat went whirling across fundamental principles the bed. The glossily varnished rocker "What principles. Auntie? I thought I creaked alarmingly as aha dropped heavily knew all your principles. into it. Aunt Serena paused. Then she asked: Aunt Serena was not thinking now. She Polly, did you ever hear of Caesar's wife? was too profoundly shocked to think. She " Sounds like a movie," said Polly meekly. simply sett sat and breathed and waited. , "Don't be flippant. stormed .the woman. It seemed to her that she must have swal"When you talk that way. Polly, I know lowed a huge piece of Ice, for there was a youre being flippant. Now tell me what you square cornered lump Inside her that grew know about Caesars wife. colder and colder. "Caesar stuck bis wife in the gizzard or Soft footsteps creaked In the hall and Aunt some such place because she was a bad girl.? Serena cocked her ears tearfully. She knew "He did no such thing., Caesar killed hla now what it was that she felt most of all; wife why? Just a panicky sort of fright She loved "Because she was not above suspicion. Polly. She didnt want to lose Polly; Pollys said Polly, dutifully. " He made that crack affection and trust, Polly's carefree confiwhen he did It, too. He said Caesar's wife dence, Polly's spontaneous companionship. must be above suspicion, or words to that And how could she help losing Polly If she effect. said what was In her mind to say, if she said Aunt Serena sighed. what she knew must be said.? The footsteps Caesar was a gentleman. said Aunt Sepassed, and Aunt Serena breathed her relief. rena. "And you, Polly, you are a gentleO, she pondered miserably, how was she woman. " Do I have to get stuck in the gizzard? going to say It? How was she going to Phrase those few harsh words with which asked Polly. must she flatly tell her niece that there are "Please, please, please, demanded her limits to everything? aunt " I simply mean that the rules which Aunt Serena's mood began to change aa applied then apply now. A gentlewoman, the power of coherent thought trickled back Polly, must always hold herself above susto her. Her fape reddened a little and a picion. That la the ultimate test of a gentlegrowing indignation claimed her. Her own woman her ability to hold herself above susown her brother's daughter, lying half niece, picion, in any situation, under any circumnaked in a young man's arms, in plain view stances." of any one who might have the common curiPolly's face, which up to now had managed osity to look at them! Aunt Serena made to hold a smile, suddenly began to disina noise In her throat that was something like tegrate. It had been a pretty face, a remarka growl. Women of her blood, she thought ably pretty face, but now it was just a taoe; could and must bitterly, keep themselves loose, fallen to pieces, a little piteous above such things. " Do you mean to say, gulped Polly, " do It was then that the door opened and you mean to say. Auntie, that you hold me in Polly walked in. Polly smiled, tossed her suspicion? damp cloak into a corner and In a businessThe sir! and the woman swept together like manner began peeling off the Nile green so suddenly that their movement was almost suit. bathing instantaneous Each flung herself at the "I'll wait till she has some clothes on, other. Each wrapped her. arms about the said Aunt Serena grimly to herself She other's neck. And then together they began . Welted, her lips pressed tightly together. to sob Eventually they sat down upon the edge of the bed, still clinging together, still tearfully vocal. But I am above suspicion," Polly gasped, dabbing at her eyes with tbs lace hem of aa undergarment. " I tell you I am above suspicion. He I mean I I mean be well, anyway, I'd been in a few minutes and no body was there. I was all alone. Auntie, all stark alone. And I swam around and the water was great and I loved It. And after a while I swam In from the raft, and I was seeing If I could float In fresh water the same as in salt, and I was lying there with my eyes closed end than suddenly, bang! " Bang? " murmured Aunt Serena "Tea, bang. Hs came down to take a -- swim and he didnt see anybody and ha just simply took a running dive off the end of the pier and he hit me square in the neck, bang! He dived on me, Auntia It knocked me for a loop. I was lying there and all of a sudden something went bang against my chin and neck. He pulled me out He was scared to death. He thought I was dead. So did I for a minute." You poor child. whispered the woman. Not a bit of It The thing was fun. When I came to myself again he was trying -- -- '-th. minutes' me" her-llgh- - eom-mitta- s, -- Gerald Mygatt Aunt Serena gathered her klmona about she walked out into the ball, carefully sether and bolted up the stairs. Just to one ting tbs latch of her door so she might get aide of ths first floor leading tho manager back without bar key. and some of the bell beys were milling The hall was a long hall, as hails so often around in circles,, throwing doors span with are In summer hotels; a hall flanked by a pass keys, sniffing vainly, shouting to on standing eompaay of unimpressive doors, another mors and mors excitedly, "It isn't each bearing an unimpressive number. Aunt bars." aad then, "It Isnt here." Aunt SeSerena studied the hall minutely. Not a rena took tho next flight of stops SS a red light was la light. That Jog near the middle was the stairway, of eourse. Beyond squirrel takes a tree. Some bell boys ware ca this floor, too, but aba paid as attention It bar eyes made out another Jog. perhaps to tnem. she would discover a red light there. Aunt Serena paced the length of the oorrihe dashed for her own door, opened It. dor and turned at last Into 4 distant Jog. slammed it behind her. One stride took her ' which proved to be another hallway running to the bureau, where stood a candleat a right angle to the first. Here she, stick bearing a candle aad a boxdusty st matches. Near' ' With steady hands she scratched a match, paused, while her eyes brightened. tar sad of the second hallway a red hesitated a momeat, then touched the flame over one of the flanking doors, light burned swiftly to ths nearest window curtain. Thera and at the side of the red light a sign prowars four curtains on the big window over-- , jected. The sign was white and bore letters looking the lake and Aunt Serena touched In large red capltala The sign said, " FUUB the aame match to them all. She watched a "ESCAPE." moment while the racing fiamee ata up the With a satisfied smile Aunt Serena moved flimsy cotton material. Than, methodically toward it. All she needed to know now was and one by one, she pulled ths curtains down, whether or not the door leading to this smacked them with her hands, trampled Are escape was open. In addition, somewhat them with her sensible felt slippers. she felt a to desire know how privately, A moment later she opened her door, ths fire escape Itself out with dignity. stopped be might designed; "Ths firs was in bore," she said to ths whether it was a mere crewd that was now in ths hall. " I put it Iron ladder, a series of out before I ran downstairs, but I wasn't stairways or what. She sura. Its out, thank goodness." ' reached the door, her The manager stood before, opened his lips eyes upon ths sign, and tried the handle. to speak. The door o p e h e d " It was my fault. said Aunt Serena with easily. what appeared like meekness. "Tou see, I Now Aunt Serena lit the candle and the window curtain must claimed afterward that have blown across the flame. the ether sign was in "But why did you light ths candle? the wrong place. The barked ths manager. other sign was on the door itself, painted "Why do you furnish a candle? sbo countered, raising bar chin. right on the doer at about the level of her " Why why " waist, but Aunt Serena " It was my fault, of course, Aunt Serena did not happen to see hurried on. "I shall be willing and glad to ft. Perhaps it eras be' pay any damages, any damages whatsoever. cause she was Intent The crowd was In ths room by this time, upon the two words, " Fire E s s a p a Permilling about as before. The manager tried to scoop ths ashes of ths curtains from ths haps It was because floor. Suddenly two firemen came in, wearher mind was still a trifle upset ever the ing helmets and rubber coats. 'Aunt Serena caught her breath, but the manager stepped argument she had had forward. with Polly. At all events Aunt Serena " It's nothing at all, be said lightly. " Just and one must believe a little curtain blaze. Tou know, he her, did not see the shrugged and laughed. " that might happen other sign. The other anywhere. As a matter of fact, chief, we Gentlesign read, are so well organized hero that w put It men's bath. out at once. Those extinguishers, you Aunt Seiena Opened know- - remarkably efficient. Our boys are, the door and stepped too. They dashed right up here and in lea into the room. It was than two from this moment on "Hold It for the reporters, said the that things began to chief. " Say. Joe, thto call caught me just happen rather rapidly. as I was betting a full house, pat That's Aunt Serena stared, all Im kicking about. jaeped. took one foolBald the manager with asldewtoe lift of ish step forward and his head; " Corns on down to my privets then halted. She halted office, chief you and the rest of ths boys, rigidly. For squarely In front of her, seated too. Well sit down by my desk for a in a couple of minutes and we'll see if ws cent comfortably find something to make you forget that fun largish tub, was a rather large personage . house He grinned and the chief grinned with a very laige back. and they all went out. The large back was toIt was perhaps ton minutes later that ward Aunt Serena It Polly walked in upon Aunt Serena. Behind was the back of a man. Polly, almost filling ths doorway, loomed a She must have made tall and very brawny young man whose a noise of some kind mile, though radiantly sunny, was a little , because the head on uncertain. " There has been a fire, said Aunt Serena, top of the back turned abruptly and blinked at lifting her eyes. her. Then an expres"I knew that," said Polly. "We heard, sion of horror entered it out on the lake and paddled right In. the heads two eyea Where was It,- - Auntie. Aunt Serena drew . It was In this room. . herself up. Perhaps Hers? she failed to show ths sareless-neas- , Te, right hero. It was,-m-y sudden dignity she was Polly. Ton see,"- and somehow Aunt sure she felt. Perhaps, Serenas face looked drawn knd tired, ypu on the other hand, she was just the least bit see, the curtains must have blown ever the rattled. Ehe managed to speak. candle flame. ' I Im looking for ths fire escape," she Polly looked at the candle. Then, with said hurriedly. narrowing eyes, she stared at It. Presently Fire escape? The man's mouth sagged she turned and said: Oh, Auntie. I almost open. forgot This to Hr. Thompson. Hs knows who you are. " Tea', fire escape." As she said this Polly reached for the matchbox on the candlestick " Good heavens. Is there a fire? demanded and struck a match. She let the flame hover the man, and without further ado started over the wick of the candle until the narclambering out of the tub. row wax cylinder capped itself with light Aunt Serena turned. She bolted through Aunt Serena nodded to Mr. Thompson, but the door like a rabbit, scurried frantically did not look at him. Instead she fastened sbs ' down the hall. She had gone perhaps Polly with an accusing eye twenty feet when she heard the same door Polly," said Aunt Serena, why did you slam again. Over her shoulder she shot a Ught that candle? quick glance. The gentleman of the tub had The girl colored, stammered. seized a bathrobe from somewhere and was '' Why. you see, said folly unsteadily. ' . pounding after her. see. Auntie. I I like candle- you seer-yWhere Is it? be yelled. " Where to it? light Tou know that " Fiddlesticks," said Aunt Serena and roes At all evento Aunt $erena ran down the to her feet "Tou know Just as well sa I two fllghta of stairs from the third floor to do. Polly, that that candle has never been tho level of tho ground. The man behind her lit until this minute. The wick was pure was public spiritedly calling " Fire! " by this white. When all those people were in here time, and for same reason Aunt Serena I suddenly saw it and was scared half to drew a blank of explaining this one-- ehe death." began Joining In with him. The result was Said Polly evenly: "Tou must be upset that they precipitated themselves Into a about the fire, Auntia I noticed that group of awe stricken guests and clerks and The wick particularly Just before I lit porters and things, clattering down into the - wa burned. lobby, with Aunt Serena barely holding tb Sure it was," said the burly young teed, her sensible blue cotton klmona flapin the dooyway. ping bravely. Aunt Serena looked first at the on and "Fire! gulped Aunt Serena. then at the other. Her expression did Dot " Fire! bleated the bath tub man, suddenchange, hut she sat down wearily. ly yanking himself to a halt and trying to "Polly," said Aunt 'Serena. "I have cover a pair of shins with a robe that had learned several things thto evening. I am been designed for a smaller mortal A- half- - -glad you were away while I was learning dozen other guests hsd run down with them, them, because the process wasnt well, ensome of them clothed and some of them' tirely dignified. But chief of all, IVe so. partly learned in the tost two minutes what ths Ths hotel manager shouldered up to them. true test of a gentlewoman to." Oo on. said Polly with a giggle, "youre ' "Where to it? hs demanded. too conservative to learn anything." Aunt Serena pointed up the stairs " Im not too conservative, " Bend tor tho engines," bellowed ths man-agasnapped Aunt Serena. And to prove It I wish to ask Mr. On of ths clerks must have put in a Thompson to lunch with us tomorrow noon. eall, because even while ths hotel bells were Will you, Mr. Thompson? Jangling their alarm a strange and hideous "Oh, gee," whispered Polly ecstatically, moaning sound began smiting the night air. I dont care what happened. Auntie " Thats ths town firs whistle, said someyoure a real sport body with satisfaction. No, Polly, said Aunt Serena severely, It was about than that Aunt Serenas brain your diction. to faulty. The proper term, began functioning with something like Us if you must use it, to sportswoman. habitual normality. Certain thoughts began What's ths difference between a sports- crowding themselves upon Aunt' Serena's woman and a gentlewoman? asked Polly mind, thoughts ranging from a sudden realigleefully. sation of her somewhat Informal attire to a There to no difference, said Aunt Serena, dawning horror concerning whet surely Thats whst. I learned from emphatically. next Ths firs department would you two minutes ago, Polly. They're the oooa They would find nothing. She, Sesame thing. Everything else I told you Is rena Thatchell, Would be questioned, cross questioned. Eventually they would dig out U I may Interrupt, spoke the hoy who the truth, tho cold, unalterable truth that filled the doorway, I'd Ilka to accept that the bad been mads a fool of no, mads a invitation for tomorrow. tool of borselfl People would laugh. Other . At twelve forty-fivesaid Aunt Serena. people would be annoyed. Tbo hotel manaAnd now will you two chicks run along ger would be angry, very angry. And then, and leave an old woman to her thoughts? sure aa fata, the newspapers would get hold of It in wrtrtl: 1037; fc, Gerald kmlll d being stuffy After ail. neither he nor I any crlma He lit on me by accident and I was catching my breath when you saw us. Aunt Serena rose stiffly to her feet and stood before 'her niece, ghs lifted her chin high, with a touch of majesty. "Polly, said Aunt Serena, "I love you and I know you. Thereby I realize that you merely made a mistake. But I do not know this young man. All I am certain of Is this that fashions and manners may change, but that fundamentals never change. If a young mag has had bis arm about you once he will not be content until be has had bis arm about you again." " Would that kill me? asked Polly audaciously. Perhaps not, but It would kill something in me, my dear. Let us go back to first principles let us eliminate all the excuses all the ifs. ends and buta A gentlewoman, Ijfclly, never finds herself In any situation where she Is not mistress of that situation. A gentlewoman- never permits any situation to exist In which she cannot say of herself that from first to last she has kept herself, as one of the Caesars so aptly phrased It, -- .... f m perfectly feminine , etated folly, etandinjt poised before her aunt. - to pull me upon the pier, only ha couldn't, because I kept slipping and flopping back Into the water again. Gee, he's awful nice. Auntie! And then he said could I climb myself. and I said yes, and he helped me up, knd then I lay there with my arm around his neck. What did I care? " It doesn't matter what you cared, said Aunt Serena huskily. "Tou you should have remembered, Polly. Tou should have thought. "I didnt think anything, the girl confessed with a nervtgis giggle. "All I thought was that I was In somebody's arms and that he was a peach. He really was a peach. . neck" Auntie. He massaged my " A strange man masaged your neck? " Sure. Didn't he darn near break it? " I give up," paid Aunt Serena bluntly. " No, you don't." said Polly, giggling again. "A gentlewoman never gives up. Auntie. Youre a gentlewoman. Do you give up? " Never," said Aunt 6erena stoutly. Presently Polly resumed the process of clothing herself. The process brought her eventually before the mirror, where she was now able to exchange looks with a very ty girl in a very pretty blue Upon frock. I told him about you, Polly remarked, addressing the reflection ot her aunt. Tou told whom About me? The man who almost broke my neck. I told. him you were an ogre and would bite his head off. O. Polly! "Do you promise not to bite hla head off, then?" " I promise no such thing. said Aunt Serena With dignity. "I sincerely hope, Polly, that you have no Intention ot setting eyes upon him again ever." "But I have," said the girl with a little laugh. " I have every Intention in the world. I told you he was a peach, Auntia He asked me out canoeing tonight, and then I told him about you, so he asked both ot ua " Tou mean to say, Polly, that you expect to go out in a canoe with a young man who so far forgot himself ss to compromise you yes, thats the word to compromise you in public? Why, Polly, I I you shock me Immeasurably." " But he asked you, too, Auntia " Do you think for a moment that I would be willing to condone his crassness by accepting an invitation from a person ot that sort? " "He says he has a nice canoe, Polly remarked. "Cushions " everything." No doubt," said Aunt Serena, crisply. Then: "Of course youre only making sport of me, Polly. Too really aren't thinking of going with him? " But I am, Auntia The girl turned from the mirror now. "1 toil you I am. He Hes a peach." " So you have said before." The elder So you have woman's Voice turned cold. said before, she repeated Icily " Very well, my dear, you may go with blm. I shall not." O, corns now, Auntia there's no use ia a-- above any possible implication of utterly evil." " Tou mean I shouldn't have let him put hla arm around me? Thats what I mean." " Even after hed almost broken my neck? " " That's what I mean. a Polly took deep breath. "Maybe you're right, Auntie, she said after a moment. " You've been right so many darn times when first-of- f I thought you were wrong. Wont you come with us In the canoe this evening? "No, said Aunt Serena flatly. "I shall go to bed. where old people ought to be. Tou see, Polly, I I trust you Implicitly." " Even after you saw me, as you say, lying In a strange man's arms? " Tes, Polly. Tou are a gentlewoman. " Well, he wont put bis arm around me tonight, if that's what you mean. But still I don't know why there wasn't an excuse for this afternoon. " Thepe is never any excuse, said Aunt Serena. Every word of this conversation not in sequence, perhaps, but in spirit at least-c- ams back to Aunt 8erena that evening 4s she was preparing herself meticulously for the calm ceremony of sleep. Polly, she knew, was out on the laks somewhere with the man she characterized as her new boy. But that did hot worry Aunt Serena. What did worry her was the fact that she and Polly had had a disagreement, an argument, warm worda Confess it or not. Aunt Serena was considerably upset. She hadn't wanted to argue with Polly. Nevertheless, and Aunt Serena took In 4 deep breath, nevertheless she had been right. She had been right to speak her mind to' Polly. She had been right to impress upon the girl the Incontrovertible prin- -' ciple that a gentlewoman, however pressed, must Inflexibly remain mistress of any situation In which she may find herself. Aunt Serena opened the window wide and for six minutes, by her watch, went through her nightly breathing exercises. She was almost glad that Polly was not with her Just now, for Polly, was prone to laugh at these exercises, exactly as she was Inclined to make light ot various other manifestations of her aunt's sacred eustoma Nor had Aunt Serena been able to demonstrate to her niece certainly not with any permanent satis- - , faction that these very customs, ranging from a certain scientific manner of wielding necea toothbrush to the ssity of locating the nearest fire escape In a strange hotel, were vital to the peace and well being of any right minded person. Naturally she could not go to sleep without assuring herself of ths fire escape's precise location. She pulled her klmona about her hastily. It was a sensible klmona of blue cotton material none of your slinky silk things forAunt Serena and It covered her night dress from neck to anklea She fumbled into a pair of sensible felt sllppera Then , t ou it n" - r. . must-happe- n |