A MATTER OF DUTY.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8789, 10 March 1894, Page 3

A MATTER OF DUTY.

The Westminster Budget. Lady Miekleham Is back from her honeymoon. I mean young Lsdy Miekleham— Dolly Foster (well, of course I do. Fancy the Dowager on a honeymoon!). She signified the fact to mc by ordering mc to call on her at tea-time ; she had, she said, something which she wished to consult mc about confidentially. I went. "I didn't know you were back," I observed. "Oh, we've been back a fortnight, but we went down to the Towers. They were all there, Mr Carter." "All who?" " All Archie's people. The Dowager said we must get really to know one another as soon as possible. I'm not sure I like really knowing people. Ie means that they say whatever they like to you, and don't get up out of your favourite chair when you I come in." "I agree," said I, " that a soupgon of unI familiarity is not amiss." "Of course it's nice to be one of the I family,'' she continued. " The cat is that," said J. " 1 would not ; give a fig for it." " And the Dowager taught mc the ways of the house." I "Ah, she taught mc the way out of it." | "And showed mc how to be most dis- ; agreeable to the servants." "11 is the first lesson of a housekeeper." < " And told mc what Archie particularly liked, and how bad it was for him, poor boy." I ".What should we do without our mothers? 1 do not, however, see how I ! cau help in all this, Lady Miekleham." " How funny that sounds !" j " Aren't you accustomed to your dignity jyet?" "I meant from you, Mr Carter." 1 smiled. That is Dolly's way. As Mfca Phaeton Bays, she means no harm, and it !is admirably conducive to the pleasure of a tete-a-tete. *' lb wasn't that I wanted to ask you about," she continued, after she had inj dulged in a pensive sigh (with a dutifully bright smile and a glance at Archie's photograph to follow. Her behaviour always reminds mc of a varied and well-assorted I menu). "It was about something much I more difficult. You won't tell Archie, will you ? " " This becomes interesting," I remarked, I putting my hat down. I " You know.Mr Carter, that before I was married—oh, how long ago it seems I " " Not at aIL" I " Don't interrupt. That before I was married I had several—that is to say, [ several—well, several——" "Start quite afresh," I suggested encouragingly. "Well, then, several men were silly enough to think themselves—you know." " No one better," I assented cheerfully. " Oh, if you won't be sensible I Well, you see, many of them are Archie's friends as well as mine; aud, of course, they've been to call." " It is but good' manners," said I. " One of them waited to be sent for, though." " Leave that fellow out." said I. " What I want to ask you is this—and I believe you're not silly, really, you know, except when you choose to be." " .Walk in the Row any afternoon," said I, " and you won't find ten wiser men." " It's this. Ought Ito tell Archie ? " " Good gracious 1 Here's a problem." " Of course," pursued Lady Miekleham, opening her fan, " it's in some ways more comfortable that he shouldn't know." "For him?"— " Yes —and for mc. But then it doesn t seem quite fair." "To him?" " Yes—and to mc. Because if he came to know from anybody else, he might exaggerate the things, you know." " Impossible 1" "Mr Carter!" " I—er—mean he knows you too well to do such a thing." " Oh, I see. Thank you. Yea. What do you think r " What does the Dowager say?" "I haven't mentioned it totheDownger." " But surely, on such a point, her experience " " She can't have any," said Lady Miekleham decisively. "I believe in her husband, because I must. But nobody else! You're not giving mc your opinion. I reflected for a moment. " Haven't we left out one point of view V ' I ventured to suggest. " I've thought ip all over very carefully," said she ; " both as it would affect mc and as it would affect Archie." " Quite so. Now suppose you think how it would affect them 2 "Who?" " Why, the men." Lady Miekleham put down her cup of tea. " What a very curious idea!" she exclaimed. "Give it time to sink in," said I, helping myself to another piece of toast. She sat silent for a few moments—presumably to allow of the permeation I suggested. I finished my tea and leant back comfortably. Then I said, "Let mc take my own case. Shouldn't I feel rather awkward ?" " Oh, it's no good taking your case," she interrupted. " Why not mine as well as another ?" "Because I told him about you long ago." I was not surprised. But I could not permit Lady Miekleham to laugh at mc in the unconscionable manner in which she proceeded to laugh. I spread out my hands and observed blandly, " Why not be guided—as' to the others, I mean—by your husband's example ?" " Archie's example ? What's that V " I don't know; bub you do, I suppose." " Wnat do you mean, Mr Carter? " Bhe asked, sitting upright. " Well, has he ever told you about Maggie Adeane ?" " 1 never heard of her." " Or Lilly Courtenay ?" " Thai girl 1" " Or Alice Layton ?" " The red-haired Lavron ?" " Or Florence Cuulifire?" "Who was she?" " Or Millie Trehearne ?" "She squints, Mr Carter." " Or " " Stop, atop! What do you mean ? What should ho tell mc ?" " Oh, I see ho hasn't. Nor, I suppose, about Sylvia Fenton, or that little Delancy girl, or handsome Miss—whut was her name?" "Hold your tongue—and tell mc what you mean." "Lady Miekleham," said I gravely, " if your husband has not thought fit to mention these ladies—and others whom I could name—to you, how could I presume* ?" "Do you mean to tell mc that Archie " He'd only known you three years, you see." "Then it was before ?" 41 Some of them were before," said I. Lady Miekleham drew a long breath. " Archie will be ia soon," said she. I took my hat. "It seems to mc." I observed, " that what in sauce—that, I should say, husband and wife ought to stand on an equal footing in these matters. Since he has—no doubt for good reasons—not mentioned to you ' " Alice Layton was a positive fright." " She came last," said L "Just before you, you know. However, as I was saying " *' And that horrible Sylvia Fenton " " Oh, he couldn't have known you long then. As I was saying, I should, if I were you, treat him as he has treated you. In my case it seems to be too late." " I'm sorry I told him that." " Oh, pray don't mind, it's of no consequence. As to the others " 44 1 should never have thought it of Archie!" 44 One never knows," said I, with an apologetic smile. "I don't suppose he thinks it of you." "I won't tell him a single word. He may find out if he likes." ""Of course you won't repeat what I've- " 44 1 shall find out for mynelf," she said. "Good-bye, Lady Miekleham. And remember that Archie, like you " 44 Yes, yes; I know. Must you gof "I'm afraid I must. I've enjoyed our talk so " 44 There's Archie's step." I left the room. On the stairs I met Archie. I snook hands syn-pathetically. I was sorry for Archie. Bat n great causes the individual cannot be considered. I had done my duty to my sex. A.H.