The Gold of Chickaree Part 51

'I never understood my obligations to society,' said Dane carelessly.

'But do you think it is fair, to disappoint all the world?'

'Always fair to disappoint improper curiosity.'

'Well, but why is that improper curiosity?'

'Curiosity about other people's business,' said Dane good- humouredly.

'And do you call _that_ improper?'

'I suppose not,?when custom has made it seem to be your own business.'

'That's it; custom _has_ made it not only seem but be so. And I think it is perfectly natural and reasonable and proper. When does a lady show to more advantage than on her wedding-day? And why should not the world have the benefit of it?'

'I do not know why not,' said Dane smiling,?'if it suits the parties concerned.'

'Why didn't it suit you, you jealous Musulman?'

'When a lady has never been seen to advantage,' remarked Dr.

Arthur,?'that may alter the case. Her Grace is hardly one of those.'

Not one word had come from Hazel's lips, that anybody heard, since those few which n.o.body was likely to forget. Indeed she had kept herself rather off from the group, among her own dependants, one and all of whom had by degrees filled up the background. And it was no trifle to give even a touch of the hand to all those eager retainers; the touch and the look, which was all she ventured. Now the room was clearing again; and whether Hazel had heard all the talk or no, her cheeks gave swift token that Dr. Arthur's last sentence had reached her ears. "Her Grace"?she could not throw off the t.i.tle any more.

But whatever the rights of the public may be in the matter of seeing, the right of discussing, with the parties at hand, Hazel plainly thought needed a check. So the next thing that attracted?

or distracted?Mrs. Coles, was the soft ringing peal of her little whistle; and answering promptly to that, the tea bugle. Then the door flew open, and Dingee brought in the tea-service. The tray, with the rarest old china cups, which even Rollo had never seen, followed by Mrs. Byw.a.n.k's cakes and other home-like dainties.

And Wych Hazel glided off to the rather distant table, gathering in Mrs. Byw.a.n.k and Reo and Gyda for her train; and hid herself behind the hot water kettle, putting its soft cloud of steam between her and all disturbance for the time being. Then Reo was sent to build up the fires,?he was a rare hand at that; and Dingee was despatched for something else; and Hazel demanded little bits of help from the other two near her; talking softly to them, it was plain, though still with the same grave young face. But the whole picture was sweeter than anybody could tell.

Looking at it, from his place in the other group, something drew Rollo's steps that way; slow, quiet steps, which however brought him to Gyda's side, whom Hazel had seated at the table. While he was safe with her, Wych Hazel watched her chance, and the next thing Dr. Maryland knew, she had brought and set down by him on the table the perfection of a cup of tea. Without a word she was away again and back in her place behind the tea urn; where with Gyda et her side and the delight of Gyda's eyes standing there near the table, Hazel took up the sugar tongs again and tried to remember what amount of sweetening commonly sufficed for Mrs.

Coles.

'Now Dane,' said that lady, with a kind of acid sweetness of manner, as Rollo brought her the cup,?'do tell me why you have conducted things in that way?'

Rollo looked grave and asked what things.

'Why you know! Have you sent out any cards?'

'Have you sent out any cards, Hazel?'

'Things must be sent in before they can be sent out,' said the young lady, who having dismissed Dingee had come herself for Dr.

Maryland's cup.

'Ambiguous'?said Dane turning to Mrs. Coles; 'but I take the sense of it to be, that no cards were sent. That is not unprecedented.'

'For people situated just as you are, my dear, it is. Now tell me?

don't you want all these people?I mean, everybody in general?to visit you?'

'Ambiguous again,' said Dane smiling at last a little. 'Suppose, for the sake of argument, that we do!'

'Then why not pay them the customary compliment of telling them so?'

'But suppose, on the other hand, that we do not?'

'Why you certainly know,' replied Mrs. Coles with some asperity, 'whether you want them. Do you? or don't you?'

'I think I might say,' answered Dane demurely, 'we do,?and we do not.'

'But that is nonsense, Dane.'

'Is it?'

'You ought to want them.'

'Well?I have told you; we do.'

'Then _are_ you going, when a suitable time comes, are you going to invite all these neglected people and give them a good Reception?

you and Hazel?'

'We will give them a good reception if they come,' said Dane with provoking want of enthusiasm.

'O I never can get anything out of you!' said the lady discomfited.

'I might have known it. Papa, do _you_ think it is well to set all the inst.i.tutions of society at defiance?'

'Why Prue,' said Dr. Maryland somewhat astonished, 'you speak as if Society were monarch of the realm. I believe we live in a republic.'

'What do you mean by Society?' asked Primrose.

'Why!?You know.'

'I do not, indeed.'

'It means,' said Dane, 'in this country, all people in general who have incomes above a certain limit; them, and those whom their powerful hands lift from a subjacent platform to the freedom of their own.'

'All people who are rich enough to invite you as you invite them,'

said Dr. Arthur.?'Prim, where is your comprehension? How can you put your feet under a man's mahogany, if he happens to have none?'

'Is it different in other countries?' asked Mrs. Coles.

'Yes. Birth counts there, and breeding, and what a man happens to have inside his head.'

'And does not birth count for something here?' cried Mrs. Coles.

'I have no doubt it does.'

'But not with you?'

'I speak of things as I find them,' said Dane smiling slightly. 'And in generalities.'

'Well, think what you like of society; are you not going to regard it at all?'