CHAPTER I.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXIII, Issue 1148, 4 September 1896, Page 7

CHAPTER I.

— Continued.

Mrs Kennedy and her daughter-in-law sat at the window. Rosebud was gazing across to the Bank, with her hands clasped idle in her lap. The droop in her mouth was very plain. Mrs Kennedy, for her part, was glancing up and down the street observing her acquaintances the shops they went into, and the clothes they had on. Her sharp eyes* travelled up and down and her tongue was busy. 'There is that Lorrimpr girl. Shocking style! -Do you see her hat? I wonder how you. can make a friend of such a person ; I really wonder, Rose. Oh, she is speaking to Dr Smith He has plenty of time to talk in the street, you see. I cannot under stand your preferring him. I have always had Doctor Nivison ' r- • Yes,' wearily from Rose. 1 Ah, now do you notice how badlj Miss Hal lam walks ? and you admire her 1 } I can't agree with your taste Look how awkwardly she crosses the street — she is standing on one leg outside Bailey's ! There are the Merriruans, your friends. Positively Oh, who is that odd person with a boquet ! Good gracious, can it be your papa V Rose looked up the street. Yes, it was the Colonel marching stoutlv olong, with a great bunch of flowers. ■" • How funny ! But, my dear, pray don't rush down the stairs like that. The servants ' She only spoke to the tail of Rose's gown, for the girl was flying down to pull back the latch herself. 'Oh the flowers! how dear and sweet of you,' she cried. The Colonel laughed in an embarrassed manner, but kept hold of his bouquet until they had come upstairs. 1 They are for Mrs Kennedy, if she will care to accept of them,' he said solemnly. Rosebud gasped. 'You are quite gallant, Colonel,' said the mother-in-law, sniffing at the bouquet. There was a sudden sprightliness in her tone, and her look was arch. Rose thought she had grown younger. • Was it a joke, papa V she said half reproachfully, while Mrs Kennedy retired to put the bouquet in water. But the Colonel shook his grizzled head. c A joke 1 My dear child, why should you think so 1' he answered stoutly It was not long after this that Rosebud, veuturing into her mother-in-law's room to ask her something, found hor at her toilet-table. She was sitting in front of the glass and smiling ; there was a powder-puff in her hand, and one cheek was a brilliant pink.