A BLUE-STOCKING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 153, 24 July 1909, Page 3

A BLUE-STOCKING.

"I wish you toadu't asked her," said Sir Kenneth Drayton discontentedly. "Well, my dear Ken," answered his sister in an apologetic tone, ''yuu told me I could invite anybody to the Hall I liked, and Griselda Wynne used to be delightful at school. I aui simply longing to see her again. It is only ior a ■week, and she will be with me the whole time—you need scarcely see lier at all." "I suppose I shall have her at meals," he grumbled. "That sort of p'erson must take all one's appetite away. I have always had a horror of blue-stockings." "I don't see why you should talk of her like that," objected Helen. "After all, she has only written one book, and it was a very charming one, too, aiid most successful." "I know nothing about her book," he said irritably; "i haven't read it, and don't want to. I only know she will talk pedantically, quote authors I have [ never heard of, dress infamously, and probably appear with inky fingers. However, as you have asked her, and she has accepted, I suppose I shall have to bear with her. All I ask of you is to get rid of her as soon as you decently can." And he went out and banged the door behind him. Helen was troubled. She stood rather in awe of her brother, who was many years older than herself, and though for some time she had shared his home and 'kept house for him, she wae always a little afraid of offending him in any way or doing what he did not like. Therefore the present instance was nrost unfortunate. She had not seen Griselda since iboth girls had left school. Circumstances) had separated them, and it was live years since they had met. She had not the slightest idea what her erstwhile school friend was like. iShe might have clianged so much in tha time that it was not possible for Helen to contradict her brother.

She was therefore agrecafoly surprised when Miss Wynne arrived. The girl was petite and lovely, aTid her tailormade gown left nothing to be desired. ■ "Oh, how pretty you are!" cried Helen a® the two friends sat togetlrr over .their tea. "What a delightful surprise you will be to Kenneth!" "Why?" asked Griselda, with her pearly teeth deep in a piece of muffin. "He expected a blue-stocking because 1 told him you had written a book, and he prophesied that you would be infamously dress'cd, that you would bore him with pedantic talk,' and altogether be a frump with inky fingers. I shall love to watch his expression when h® sees you." "Ilm!" said Gritseldn thoughtfully, '•ft doesn't appear as if he were looking forward to my visit with mu:h pleasure." •"Wwll," oldinitted her friend, "considcrrag the way be pictured you, I am afraid he isn't. But then, you see, he looks on yo» in much the same way as he regards a Suffragette. He is absurdly old-fashioned, and has a horror of .what lie ignorantly calte the New Women. Why," laughing, "he actually begged me to get rid of you as soon aa I decently could." ! Griselda gave a low laugh, but it was not altogether one of amus'emcnt. There was a distinct flavor of malice in it. "Your Toother must be quite a character," s'he said; "I shall studv him with deep interest." She was silent fol a moment, lost in thought. Then she turned suddenly to her friend. "I have a great idea!" she cried. "Sir Kenneth shall .be punished for making up his mind about me before he ever sees ine, and discussing me in such a disparaging way. Tell ine, Helen, have you any old gowns or overalls' in the house! Have you anything for me to dress up in?"

■ Her friend looked at her in some perplexity. "There is a box of costumes we keep for theatricals. What do you want them for? There are Watteau gowns and a dress I wore in the tableaux last Christmas when I was Mrs. Noah "

Griselda interrupted her with an exclamation of delight. "Mrs. Noah?" she repeated eagerly. "What is the dress like?"

"It is made of Turkey red—straight i down without a fold —it docs not even' go in at the waist." Griselda clapped her .hands and laughed exultantly. "The very thing!" rshe cried. "Oh, Helen, I am going to enjoy myself. Now, you mustn't say a word when you see me come into the drawing-room to-night ready dressed for dinner. I am going to punish that wretched brother of yours, and I will never forgive you if you give me away!"

Dinner bad been nnnounced. and Helen and her brother were standing waitins for thei,. guest. A frown was on Sir Kenneth's face. He was not by any means looking forward to the evening. There was a little bustle outside, and then the door opened and Griselda appeared. "I hope I am not late." she said nrimlr. "t n» wncrallv such a punctual wrson. T think xnur clocks must be n few minutes fast." And- Helen could scnreclv suppress an exclamation of astonishment.

Was this really the same person »» that radiant vision who hud arrived in the afternoon? Mrs. Noah's long red carment effectuallr concealed the lines of Griselda's <rraceful fiirure. Tt was cut nut slitrhtlv at the neck, and a lace tucker hod been inserted, while her nrettv hair was marted in the middle, and strained back from her face in a cruel manner, nnd twisted in a ti"ht knot at the back of her head. Griselda looked almost plain! Sir Kenneth gave an audible siorh. But, after all. he had not expected anything else. He went forward and slmdInnds as Helen recovered herself «uffierentlv to effect an introduction, and] then thev all three w>t i" to d!"ri"T)n not know this nart *' * h ~ ■world?" he asked politely as thev «i' 3own. , "No, I have never been here lipfn™" she replied, "ami T hear the* t'— -' several old ehi'TeW vnv A n'-"- 1 ■■■" l*ltßSßo Mmefi lo see. 1 revel in n"'* ; ;l tecture. don't you? And the ve"- f'»''' i of 8 Norman arcl" drives me erazy, or

Jo you prefer the stylo of the Kenaissauce ?" He shook his head. "I am afraid X know nothing about architecture," he said. "JS T ot really?" with a little shocked air ,of disbelief. "But then I suppose your tastes lie in other directions. You remember what Emerson said about individuality in his essay on 'Character.'" "1. am sorry to say I don't,' - lie interrupted hastily. "I have never read a word of Emerson." "Never read a word of Emerson?" she repeated in a horror-struck tone. "Xo," he replied. "I am afraid you will thinlt me sadly ignorant. 1 have not even read any work by Miss I j Wynne." , And there was a suspicion of a sneer in his words, "lly literature consists only of newspapers and books relating to sport." He srokc aggressively, and Griselda lowered her eyes to hide the twinkle which sparkled there. "You have indeed a great treat before you," she said. "I envy you. Only think," clasping her hands ecstatically, "only think of reading Tolstoi and linskia and —er—iPaquin —for the first time."

For the moment she could not think of another author, and the namo of the great costumier coming to her lips, she Irought it out with great gusto. Fortunately for her, Sir Kenneth was as ignorant of dressmakers as he was' oJ' books. Only Helen gave a suspicious cOugh, and began hunting under the table for a dropped napkin. i Drayton, in fact, fell nothing hut boredom, and was wondering haw he could bear this sort of conversation for beven consecutive evenings. "I don't suppose I ever shall read them," ihe answered shortly. "I lwve no time for such things. But," controlling his irritability -with an effort, "I daresay you will lind some of your favorite authors in the library, so please choose any you like. And the motor is always at your service when you want |to visit the churches. I am so sorry I shall not be able to accompany you." And then Helen came to the rescue and struck in with a new topic, while her brother subsided into silence. He thought he had done his duty for the time being. The blue-stocking was even worse than he had expected.

It was the following afternoon, and the two girls were again having tea together. Uriselda had only seen Sir Keuneth at luncheon, and the meal had not been a success. Perhaps the fact of Alias Wynne's appearing with inky lingers had not helped matters. "Griselda," said Helen impatiently,, "when are you going to stoip this farce'? I am tired of seeing you with your hair done in that hideous fashion." Her friend smiled. "I don't know," she replied. "Altogether I feel rather a 1 brute. Your poor brother tried so conscientiously to he nice last night, in spite of the fact that he disapproved of me so intensely and my very presence got on his nerves. 1 felt quite sorry for nim, poor dear!" i "Well, Captain Beresford is coming to stay to-day," said Helen, "and. I don't want hiiu to think this is a lunatic ysylum, -which he must do when he gees yuu." "Thank you," put in Griselda sweetly.•'Then," continued Miss Drayton, "Mr. Ford, the Vicar, with his 1 wife and daughter, arc coming to dinner tosight. So do please be presentable." "What are they like?" asked Griselda lazily. "Mr. and Mrs. Ford are like every .parson and parsoirs wife you have ever met. The daughter is rather pretty in a doll-like way. I always think that her .parents are hoping to marry her to Kenneth."

"Ready?" with apparent indifference. 'And does your brother seem willing to fall in with the arrangement?" "Ah, that I don't know. But, at any rate, he wishes her to sit by him at dinner to-night. He is to be betweei' the mother and daughter. He says," maliciously, "that ho can't tackle such a preposterous person as Miss Wynne again." There was a danger-signal in the sparkle of Griselda's eyes. "Did he say that?" she cried below her breath. Then she threw her head back and laughed. "All right, Helen," she said suddenly, "you shall have your way. Yesterday I was a chrysalis; this evening I will be a butterfly!" And her friend nodded triumphantly. Her tactics had succeeded beyond her utmost expectations.

Everybody had assembled for dinner but Grisclda—Grisclda was late as* usual. The door opened, and Sir Kenneth looked up with an impatient expression 'on his lace. He never wanted to see that red-robed figure again. But—who was this coining in? This lovely girl with her hair beautifully dressed, and rippling in soft, burnished wjtveci over her head, her wonderfullylilting, black) sparkling dress showing off her perfect figure and the whiteness of her ncek and arms? "Who was it? | Who could it be? i "Sir Kenneth," said Grisekla reproachfully, "you have ncvot put your clocks right. How can I help being late?" Ah, that voice! He recognised that voice, ior last night he could not fail to be struck with the s'oft timbre, even when it had been dilating on architecture and Emerson.

But Drayton was too dazed to answer. He could only stare until Helen gently brought him back to himself by suggesting that dinner had been announced, and telling him that Mrs. Ford was waiting to be taken in. How that meal passed Sir Kenneth never know. Mrs. Ford talked parochial affairs, and sometimes her daughter put in a iplatitude; but he answered both mechanically, his eyes and thoughts were too much taken up with that I radiant figure at the other end of the table to spare time for anyone else. How animated she was! How cliarming! How she was making Beresford laugh! —the idiot was quite fascinated, and even the Vicar, sitting on her other side, seemed bewitohed too. From snatches of conversation which reached Drayton's cars, the girl certainly was rot discussing ■ the Renaissance or any work of Tolstoy. Why this transformation? Or, rather, why the disguise of last night? Fo r this was evidently the real Griselda Wynne. Sir Kenneth w r as not a- dull man, and probably before dinner was over a glimmering of the truth came to him. However, after the first shock, he did not betray a suspicion that anything unusual hadoccurred. He continued to play his part as a host to the Fords, and did not address a word to Griselda the whole evening. He left her entirely to the society of Beresford. Only, as he said good-night to her there was a .-trange, mocking look in his eyes a 6 they met hers which brought the color to her cheeks and made her ponder as she went her way up to bed. The next morning he came to her after breakfast. She was kneeling down on the rug in the hall, fondling a beautiful white collie, and she started violently at the sound of his voice. How long had he been standing there? "Miss Wynne," he Said, "I heard you say last night that you were fond of riding. Would you care to come for a canter with me over the downs?"

She colored brilliantly. So he had been listening to her conversation with Captain Beresford, although he had appeared unaware of her existence. It had not pleased Griselda at all to be so thoroughly ignored, and a little smile if triumph curved her lips. "Oh, I should love it," she answered, glancing up at him through her long lashes', as she gently 6troked the dog's head. "We shall pass some churches, too," he said gravely. "You might give me a lesson in architecture." But in spite of his serious .»oice, she caught a twinkle in his eye. "That will do another time," she said, smiling. "Let us go on the downs this morning." "Then you will not regale me with any quotations from your favorite authors?" he persisted. He liked to see her color come and go. She evidently had the grace to be ashamed of

the way she had behaved. "Never again as long as I live," she cried, jumping up. "Shall 1 go and get ready now? I am so afraid you wil'. change your mind."

(He looked at her in silence for a moment, as if he were studying her. An odd little thrill ran through her, anil her cy«s fell. "I don't think I shall change my mind," he said as he turned away; "when you are ready, you will find me and the horses waiting." The week had sped away, and Griselda's visit had come to an end. It had been a week of delights—such a •week as the girl had never experienced before. She had had many a canter over the downs with Kenneth-she had talked with Kenneth, walked with Kenneth, spent nearly all her tinio with J Kenneth, and now it wos all over. This 'man whom she had not known seven days) ago had come tn b? part of her life, and—she dreaded leaving him. She bad begun by scorning him, but he !rnl had his full revenge—be bad made he: love him in spite of heTself. There had been no exnlaimtin- nf '■■■■ first appearance as a blue-stocking— Sir -Kenneth, indeed, had never even alluded . w it. litt Unit eiilit'V guessed nor

• I sons for her disguise, or Griselda bad a , elireivd suspicion that Helen had turned [, traitor and told him. Not that it mati tered much—nothing mattered now. I Sir Kenneth had protalbly only been I, amusing himself and she could not even ■ I blame him. He had every right to take j , his jcvcnge. She had been playing with ( fire and had got burnt herself. She was standing in the drawingroom alone looking out restlessly at the landscape beyond. A quick step came 'into the room, a step that was wont to nmke her heart leap, and then, without turning her head, she knew Sir Kenneth | was standing 'behind her. 1 "Helen tells me that you are going | away to-day," he said slowly. "Yea," she replied, tracing her fingsi idly on the window-pane, j "Have you grown tired of us, then!" I I She turned round ini faced him. "I ouHit to have gone ibefore, long ago," she said, "for you said-you know yon J told Helen to get rid of me as soon- | r.s soon—as she decently could," and : she blinked sharply, for her eyes were i suspiciously moist. But lie did not remove his' eyes from her face. "I did not wish to get rid of vou," he, said, "only the person you pretended to be. Why did you do it?'' hi! went on fiercely. "How dared you do it? Only think, you robbed me of a whole day I might'liave spent with you, a whole "day wasted in this miserably short life! Oh, Griselda, don't you know that it is because I want you with me not Only for a few days but always —always—don't you know that it is because' I love you I cannot let you go nway? Say you will stay, dear—tell me you will stay." "You said I was a blue-stocking. You —you said you could not stand anymore of such a pre—preposterous per—" began Griselda in a quavering voice. But his arms were round her now, he 'could no longer wait for her permission, and he stopped her words abruptly with a kiss.—By Mabel H. Rabins, in M.A.P.