I SHALL SNUB HER.
"A favourite has no friends."
--Gray.
"And just for that one simple reason you refuse this invitation; which
you have been craving for so long a time? Well, my dear, stranger every
day grow the works and ways of this troublesome world. Of course you
certainly know your own reasons best; it is nothing to me if you act
foolish." Mrs. St. James shrugs her pretty shoulders as she looks with
astonishment at her young visitor, charming Rea Severn, who, as she
stands before the cosy fire, tapping her small foot impatiently on the
brightly polished fender, looks the original of injured dignity.
"No, but Arial, just think yourself, how more than provoking it is. What
do you think possessed Jerry to invite the girl? Oh dear, the men are so
green sometimes; there is no accounting for their tastes in some
matters."
Mrs. St. James smiles, and twists the heavy gold bracelet about on her
white arm as she replies:
"Be reasonable, Rea; of the two, I have more reason to dread the meeting
than you." Bitterly, "I owe her a debt, and she--I wonder if she has
forgotten what she owes me?"
After a considerable pause, with some more impatient tapping of the
little high-heeled boots on the fender, Rea decided that upon second
thought, perhaps it would not do any good to any one, and beside be a
great punishment to herself, to remain away from this entertainment. It
had been so extremely nice of Jerry Hopkins, (the Honorable Jeremiah,
but dubbed "Jerry" by his intimates), to give this yachting party to his
friends. The gentlemen all declared it would be just the thing, and the
ladies, why they were charmed. Then, above all, on their trip they were
to visit one of H. M. steamships. The officers, who were all well known
to the Hon. Jerry's guests, had invited them to a dance on board the war
ship, lunch afterward, and then row by moonlight back to the yacht.
Rea Severn was delighted; but when she heard that pretty Dolores, the
eldest daughter of Edward Litchfield, Esq., the genial and portly
ship-builder, was one of the invited guests, she was so angry that on
the impulse of the moment, in a burst of temper, she had flown to her
bosom friend, wealthy Arial St. James, and declares her determination to
refuse to go.
"And another thing, Rea," Mrs. St. James goes on in her soft, smooth
tones, "you have surely heard of the arrival of Lady Streathmere and her
son. To be sure I remember distinctly when I went to school with him,
what a perfectly horrid little boy he was. Such a coward; beat all the
little boys and girls smaller than himself, and run when one of his own
age and size approached. But for appearance sake, and the hope that he
has improved with his years, we must be civil. Then it must be
remembered, a match like he would be, with I forget how much income a
year, is not to be picked up every day for the asking. Perhaps if you
are favored by Fate, and try hard enough, you might make an impression."
Rea was prevented from a replying by the door being opened and a servant
announcing Mr. Gordon Aubrey. Mrs. St. James arises to welcome him, and
Rea's pouting lips become radiant with smiles. Mr. Aubrey was tall,
slight and fair. He had a great habit of continually looking at you
through an eye-glass, which to some of his friends proved decidedly
embarrassing. When the eye attachment proved wearisome he took to
stroking a slight moustache, of which he was extremely proud, which was
a very good thing, because no one else considered it worth noticing.
They talked about the approaching yachting cruise, last night's concert,
the theatre of last week, the people in town, the merits of the latest
novel, and the last new song. Then Rea happened to glance toward the
window, to behold the rain pouring in torrents. Mrs. St. James presses
her to remain, but she declares it is impossible, that mamma will wonder
what has happened to her. So Gordon Aubrey jumps up to offer Miss Severn
a seat in his covered carriage waiting at the door; and Rea, thinking of
her thin shoes and the probable fate of the costly suit she is wearing,
is not inclined to refuse to be driven home in Mr. Aubrey's or any one
else's carriage. She likes him quite well, and so smilingly consents to
go with nice looking but fickle Gordan Aubrey, who falls in love with
every pretty new face he meets.
"And you will not refuse Jerry's invitation?" Mrs. St. James says, in a
whisper; and Rea, as she stands in the hall, draws her tall figure to
its fullest height, replies:
"No; I shall not refuse Jerry. As for Dolores Litchfield, I will snub
her."
"My dear child," Mrs. St. James says quickly, "as I told you before, her
going should not influence you, and why worry about imaginary evils; it
is quite time enough when they appear, so be sensible; it is not your
nature to despond."
As Rea turns to say good-bye, she cries impulsively, "Oh, Arial! what
would become of me without you? I should get discouraged and give up
altogether."
Gordon Aubrey calls out that he will have no more whispering, for who
can tell but what it might be something about him. Then Rea takes her
place in the large roomy carriage, while the footman climbs up in his
seat beside the coachman, where in a united way they call down devout
blessings on their master's head for his extreme thoughtlessness in
letting the horses stay out in the rain for a good half hour. Such were
the woes of Gordon Aubrey's Jehu.