Mate selection -- Fiction; United States -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Fiction
“As to satisfactory, she is a lump!” declared Minerva with scornful
emphasis. “But she did speak of Mr. Kit’s being there, and I know
all about it. It seems that little Anne Berkley brought him there
with her. As though you didn’t know Mr. Latham! That little witch
is a prime favourite of Mr. Latham’s and visits him a great deal;
she’s everybody’s favourite, and she would amuse a blind man. And the
child is very fond of Miss Dallas, the secretary. So Master Kit gets
little Anne to take him there. And he is asked to lunch. And after
lunch the party is going driving, with horses, mind you, like their
own grandfathers.” Minerva was intensely scornful of this reversion.
“Master Kit, the secretary, and the child, Mr. Latham, of course. And
Stetson, who was going in case of being needed, is left, and Mr. Kit
will be beside Mr. Latham, who likes to drive, but has to be watched
and told which way, and all that. And they had a pleasant lunch party,
laughing and talking. Mrs. Lumley heard little Anne’s voice a good
deal, and they were laughing at her. So that’s as far as any one could
tell you who wasn’t one of them. And I’m going to have my luncheon now,
Miss Carrington, for chilled cream sauce, which I saw passing through,
with cold potatoes, is not desirable. But cold they are, and often will
be for me, I suppose, while I do for you.”
“After all, it tells me nothing, except that apparently Kit went there
on his own initiative,” said Miss Carrington, rubbing her nose with
manifest annoyance. “If the girl had invited him he would not have
needed little Anne Berkley’s good offices. If I knew which way they had
gone--it’s a good day for a drive.”
“Ah, to be sure; I asked that,” said the thorough Minerva, turning
back. “I forgot to tell you. Mrs. Lumley said that little Anne went
out to see her after lunch. She is very partial to the child, and Anne
never forgets to visit her. She asked Anne where they were driving,
and Anne laughed and said: ‛Out to the willow-ware china park.’ Now I
ask you if that isn’t exactly like little Anne Berkley? She’s just so
nonsensical. Mrs. Lumley says she’s no mortal idea where it can be,
but that Mr. Latham and little Anne have all sorts of names for things
and people, which they make great secrets. You could easily overtake
them in the car, and they poking with horses, if you knew where a
‛willow-ware china park’ might be.”
Miss Carrington smiled.
“No wonder that little Anne and Mr. Latham enjoy each other if they
make life as interesting as that!” she mused. “Let me think where it
can be. Willow ware--a small bridge--why, of course, Minerva! It’s the
park on the west side where they’ve bridged that tiny stream and put
up a summer pagoda! Tell Noble to have the car around in ten minutes.
I’ll not change my dress. You’ve been out and know what the weather is;
get out the coat I need, and bring up that new veil; I left it in the
library. Help me dress; first call Noble.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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