When the Gilt Rubs Off

Bruce Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 2956, 29 April 1898, Page 4

When the Gilt Rubs Off

They had dined at a little table by themselves, for the head waiter had recognised their newly married state, and so had set them apart. It was the first time they had come in contact, socially, witb their fellow creatures since their wedding day, 10 days ago, for until they came to this big hotel they had stayed at a quiet country innEveryone they had met had acted from the same kind motives which had influenced the head waiter, and avoided them. A depressing sense cf isolation had begun to affect them, though they did not acknowledge it indeed, they were not consciously aware of it, but now it was emphasised by their table being placed in a Bhadowy corner of the great diuingroom. It seemed to Muriel that everyone was extraordinary cheerful and talkative j then it suddenly occurred to her she and George had been sitting in silence for several minutes. She reflected that when two people had been constantly together for 10 days there is a difficulty in finding f-eah subjects of conversation. During the few months of her engagement to George, when they had eeen each other at intervals, she had never found it hard to talk to him ; perhaps they had both felt that much speech waß unnecessary. It was different now. George was not interested in so many things that interested her, and though he did his best to pretend that he was, the effort was growing greater. Of course she was always interested iv what he said, even though she did sometimes wonder what he was talking about j but after all, she had only seen him for the first time t-ix months ago, and it is impossible to understand a man and learn his points of view in six months, though he may have pa s^d in that time from an acquaintance to a husband. It in different with a girl ; if George had been a girl they c uld have discussed the peculiarities of their fellow dineis, and she had not talked over the wedding rea'ly thoroughly yet. But George never noticed liitle things about people, and he bad confessed that he was anxious to forget the details of his wedding- he had not enjoyed tbem. She glanced at him He was re -ding the menu for the third time ; surely that was a sign that he was bored. She rushed upon a subject. 'Is it — do you think it's a good dinner, Georgn dear V she asked anxiously. " Yes, not bad ; but I wish they weren't such a long time over it,' he annwered. ' What's coming next ?'' ' Something witb truffles. Haven't you seen the meDU V She had, but she took it and read it again. 'Truffles are dreadfully unwholesome,' she murmured. 'You won't take any, will you, George They always upset Papa.' George was helping himself to some at that moment, and did not answer. She felt th-tt she had made a foolish remark, and hoped he bad not heard it. He had, and be wondered why women said Bach irrelevant things ; he had only noticed Muriel's tendency to do so daring the last few days. Perhaps if he never teok any notice of those sort of remarks she would cease to make them. He finished the truffles in silence. At a table near a large party of guests were laughing and talking. One of them, a young widow, was •specially merry. George looked to-

wards them irritably ; it waa very bad style to be so noisy in a pnblio roomit disturbed other peop'e. Muriel was still studying the mean ; she seemed absorbed in the advertisements at the back of it. He yawned and bagan to think that a long dinner hour was dull when the only peraon one haß to talk to reads advertisements. He wondered what it was that the widow bad said to make everyone laugh. It was a nuisance being shoved away in a dark corner of the room. Muriel's eyes wandered to the noisy diners. There was a good-looking, rather elderly man next to the window ; he was leaning back just now listening and smiling, but whenever he spoke his neighbors seemed anxious to hear what he said. Dinner was over at last, and George and Muriel wandered into the hall, which was lavishly furnished with Oriental divans and draperies from the Tottenham Court-road. George was conscious that something had been wanting to complete the harmony of their meal. He was afraid Muriel had felt dull ; Bhe was certainly lesß lively than when he had first met her, six months ago. He was really anxious tbat she should be happy, and he told himself tbat he ought to have talked more, though when a man marries he does not expect to pass his time in making conversation with his wife. He supposed it would become easier after a year or two ; naturally, when two people have been limited to each other's society for ten d tys, the situation does grow rather — not wearisome — he would not admit that it was that, but be felt it bad lost its first fresh charm. Two or three men went by towards the billiard room. He would have liked a game with a good player ; but, of course, he could not be so unkind as to leave Muriel. Hp trier! to tb'nk of something to say ; they had already discussed the prospects of tbe morrow's weather. Ah ! a little terrier was coming towards them. Moved by one impulse the husband and wife welcomed 't. •What a dear little dog you ate !' said Muriel. -Do come and t»lk to me.* Bat the terrier 6eempd to have a human appreciation of the dv y of leaving newly married people to themselves. Hei sniffed., wagged his tail, arjd trotted away. As he disappeared, the widow and the elderly man sauntered into the hall and sat down opposite George and Muriel, but at a discreet distance. The widow just glanced at the two on the divan as she passed, murmured something to her companion, and then smiled. Muriel flushed angrily, and took up a week-old paper. She hated widows ; tbey seemed to think that the fact that they had survived their husbands added to their importance, and in their eyes, especially in the eyes of this particular widow, a young wife was a silly and ignorant child. George had seen the i«mile too, and he wondered uneasily if he 1< oked an awful fool, sitting by his wife'n side. The elderly man called a warer and ordered two cups of coffep. Muriel thought it was careless of George not to have ordered some for her. 4 We might hai.e h*d some coffee, Georgp,' she said in a low voice, for there was no need to It t that wu'ow imagine that George was an inattentive husband. 4 1 thought you never cared for it !' he answered. 4 1 should like some to-night,' she said. 4 Then I'll tell the waiter to bring some.' 4 Ob, it doesn't matter now.' ' Yes it does matter, if you want it. Here waiter !' But the man was arranging a table in front of the widow, and did not hear. 1 Please, don't bother about it,' said Muriel. 4 I don't caro about it now.' 'Nonsense! you said you wanted some,' replied her husband sharply. And he called again to the waiter who moved farther away. George murmured somethhing violent about his inattention. * It's not worth getting angry about,' remarked Muriel, with a humiliating uncertainty that the widow was amused ' at George's futile efforts. Please don't shout to him again,' ehe said. ' There il no need for tbe whole hotel to kuo-v that you want coffee.' Then she saw the good-looking elderly man beckon to the waiter, and point to George, wbo now gave bio order in a tone that sounded to Muriel grotesquely dignified. They drank their coffee in silence, while the widow and her friend became absorbed in each other. George felt compelled to say f-ome-thing. « I dont think this coffee is j wcth the trouble I had to get i ,' he observed. ' 'Did yoa get it replied Muiel I calmly. ' I thought that pleasant man i opposite did.' •

4 Well, hang it, Muriel, I did my best.' 'Oh, yes; only the waiter didn't attend to you muoh, did he ?, In the long pause that followed, George recollected thit In had h^ar i Muriel's mother say singularly unpleasant things, and undoubtedly Mmiel was like her in many ways. His eyes wandered towards the pretty widow and he sighed. 4 Wouldn't you like to go and play billiards?' Muriel asked presently* conscientiously trying to ignore what had passed. 4 1 don't- want to leave you,' he answered, with no equally strong sense of duty. 4Oh ; but you mustn't mind about me ; besides, I think I shall go upstairs and write to toother. She will be wanting to hear about us.' * Well, if you really do want to write — ' he said, ris'ng. 'Yes; do go dear!' she returned. ' Then I'll just go and have one game if you are sure you don't mind. ' She assured him she did not, and she watched him walking down tbe cor ridor ;he did not look back at her. As she turned towards the stairs she saw the widow was watching her, but now she was not looking at all amused, only rather sad. Muriel disliked her more than ever, and went and wrote borne to her mother, and said ho«v perfectly happy she waß as dear George's wife. — ' Westminster Budget,'