ELINOR'S CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 90

ELINOR'S CLUB.

By Rosalie Neish. "Why should we have men in our clubs V said Elinor; "we don't want them, they don't want us, and they have their own clubs, and — they're only a nuisance in ours." "They're rathei fun," I said tentatively. "Fun! — we don't belong to clubs for fun, at least, I don't— l come here for quiet and peace, and — and when I'm untddy and want to trildy up and have not time to go home, and that is why I have chosen the Pereiphone." 1 sighed. "Well, my dear Elinor, you must go your own way. I am only very J sorry you* will not join my club, because it's "such a jolly one ; but after all, if you E lease yourself "ou are sure of being sa-tas-ed." . . . • « Elinor was having luncheon with us. "I am only up tor a few days," s>e 6aid. "Papa asked me to come up about some servants. What a fearful bore servants are!" "Where- are you stayinig?" "At the dub," she repKed. "Do come into tea — rather late, dearest, if you don't mind, as I shall have domestics pouring in on me between 3 and 4 — and more probably on until nearly 5." "Very well,'" I said; "I will oome about 5," and I accordingly drove down to the Persiphone at a quarter-past 5. "Is your business over?" I asked, as I was shown into a delightful sitting room that adjoined Elinor's bedroom. "I never beard anything so absolutely idiotic and disgraceful," ebe said, jumping up to meet me, and pouring out her anger and troubles with some incoherence. "What do you, think, Alice? I have 'been waiting here for two hours. You know, I advertised in the Morning Post, and for over two Hours I've waited to see butlers and first footmen— because Martin is being married, and Jones won't stay on without Mm—^and they've actually cent them all away." " "Who has sent what away?" I asked in -much bewilderment. "Why, the hald maid,'" replied Elinor. "You know,' we have only hall maids here ! They're so nice and dean, and she said sne* asked the secretary, who said^she couldn't allow any men in the cluib." I laughed, and then apologised. "I'm so sorry, dear, but how stupid of them! Did they really refuse?" "Yes," said Elinor, "and wnen I went down and complained, the secretary said she was very much surprised I had even suggested thedr coming here — as though it were a nunnery, or as though one looked on footmen as men." 'What will you do?" I asked. "I don't know, she replied. "There w«re afxmt 15 altogether, the hall maid said, and now I suppose papa will have to come up and see them at his club, but he adways likes mie to see them for him.' "And, :>f course, you wouldn't be allowed in his club," I said. "Poor you," I added sympathetically ; "but you .must console (yourself with the thought that every drawback has^its compensation, and. at least, you will "get your meals in peace.' It was the following day, and I had finished' my breakfast, amd was settling down to write my letters, when a telegram came from Elinor : " Very unwell ; can you c?ll in to-day? — Elinor." I ordered the brougham, and went at once She was evidently suffering from a chill, for her face was flushed and her voice rather hoarse. "I say, dearest, I feel so very seedy," she said plaintively ; " isn't it a bore when I have so much t< do ! I thought perhaps you would be an angel, and see to one or two things for me." "Of course," I said; "I have nothing to do to-day, and the brougham is here. But, Elinor, can't I get you a doctor?" "I have told them, to fetch one," she said, "and I shall tell hiir he must give me something to buck me up ; I do so want to go to the Marchmonts' to-morrow t night. I fcxnect he'll be here in about

| a quarter of an hour. Can you wait, lifej J a dear, and send off some wires for me?" ' "Of coanse," I said ; "but don't talk, lie still and I'll lower this blind." It was scarcely ten minutes before th« maid knock-ed at- the door. "The doctor, mists," aiie whispered to j me. "Ask him to come up," I said, and turned away to tell Elinor. A few moments later there came a sharp rap at the door. ' The noisy kind of cheery man, I said to myself with a little grimace, as I thought of Elinor's fads for absolute quiet. "Come in," I cried, and as the door opened with some abruptness, I involuntarily drew back in dismay, for a tally gaunt woman stalked firmly into the room, . and, going over to the window, drew the j blind up hurriedly, showing us as sh© I turned a sharp, rather hard, face, short - and esnsible skirts, and very useful gloves and boots. "How do you do?" she said curtly, taking: off the useful gloves as she spoke, and looking keenly at the astonished face , of Elinor, who was almost buried in exceedingly fluffy garments. "What is it," j added the "doctor — "aheadache, eh?" - But . Elinor was apparently suffering j from partial, if not entire, paralysis, and . j she only receded further into the fluffy • gaoxnents. The gaunt l«dy strode over to the bed, j a % .wi felt -her pvi*% and "tried" her chest, ■ mod generally went through the necessary medical pantomime, and then she turned again to me. "A slight chHl," she said l cn-eex-fully. "A day in bed — milk and sc'da and light food. I'll give her something that will soon set her right," and she sat down and drew out an exceedingly large and unpleasant-looking notebcok. then she jumped up. "Good day," she bowed coldly to Elinor, and turned to me. "Are you coming down?" I meekly followed her. "There' 6 nothing to be a-larmed about," she said reassuringly — "youir sister? No, I thought not ; eba's exceedingly nervous. Most of you society women are neurotic nowadays. Don't let her get up to-day ; but cheer her " up, and don't let her talk about her ailments, eh? Good day," and a moment later she had vaulted athletically into a hansom, and was whirling away down Dover street. I ran back to Elinor. " Isn't it funny?" I laughed. "Oh, Elinor, wasn't it really lovely; did you ever soe such an awful female?" I added almost hysterically, but Elinor's hysterics we:e the other • kind. , " Give me 'my blotter," she cried angrily; "quick, Alice— yes, that one— and ring for Marie at once. lam going to get up." "Get up," I said, "but you're ill!,' ''Y«s, ' perhaps I am, bat I'm not mad," she' rejoined, "and if 1 am ill I'll have a man to get me well; but give me my blotter, dearest, while Marie gets* my water, and let me forget that creature who treated me as though I were a baby or a lunatic." "Whom are you writing to?" I asked. "I am sure you're too ill to write any letters." Elinor paused and laid her pen down on the blotter. "I'm writing to the secretary of the club," she said, "to tender my resignation, and to tell her what I think of her beastly olub," and siha added dramatically : "And then I'm going to a decent hotel; I'm niuch too ill to stay here, my deax Alice."