HER DEBUT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20137, 24 December 1928, Page 7 (Supplement)

HER DEBUT.

By BESSIE NINA WATTY. g|j

In New Zealand when ono writes, ono is supposed to write a New Zealand story, hut in tliis instance, I am breaking away from the rule because I have a story to tell of a charming littlo French girl who lived in a cottage homo away behind tlio hills of Toulon The cottage was very small, and in the garden the magnolias and jasniino made tlio air heavy but c.xotically sweet. To-day, Alix stood at the window wistfully facing the straight road that ran, a heavy streak of yellow mud, far beyond where her eyes could follow. A violent gust of wind -shook the cottage and moaned around the sharp corners that boasted a or so. Alix glimpsed with wistful eyes tlio rain-sodden flowers, hanging frail and limp from their slender stalks, nnd her thoughts flitted back to those radiant days in the convent, a few miles distant. Where, wondered, wero Eileen O'Farre.l and Madeline O'Hara, those two mischievous comrades who cared as little for their punishment as Alix cared much for hers. Arithmetic! Algebra! Oh, those long, hard hours of study, and to-day she knew sho was as stupid as of old. "Dunce!" had cried Sister Marthe, when Alix had failed to return ;<• correct answer to what slie felt to to a most difficult question. Today, Alix felt her school days were years away, yet they were but two. Her pale, delicately-tinted face quivered ;ts a tear fell upon her hands, for she could hear again t!;e farewell words of the Mother Superior: "Bless, you, my child. May the world deal gently with you." And crowding in upon her memory came the buzz and stir of leavetakings with the girls. Susanne's shrill treble: " Bo sure you find a prince, old thing, and Decima's squeaky voice piping from a corner of the long and draughty dormitory: "Good-bye, dear child. I shall dream of your golden eyes and your little fluttering hands in tile years to be. Drop mo a line, sometime j, . . 'bye!" Alix thrilled. Down deep in her heart ehe could see and hear it all . . . the echo of days that would como no more; and she realised with vivid intensity the change in her fortune, for an uncle;, dying, had bequeathed hei a modest, legacy. tWhen the news fust arrived, she felt quite

stunned, and very much bewildered, but fchat was only a passing phase. There followed a wild period of vivacious loquacity for which mad.ime upbraided her. " Silly," she had cried, tilting the dimpled oval chin between thumb and finger. *' Silly child, do you not know that when one is rich, one should learn to suppress all animation ?" " Oui, madame, but Alix only wants to be natural, and when joy is in the heart, she must enthuse to those about her, if it enly be to the birds outside, or the cat upon the hearth!" Ciel! You are always in an extreme mood—all tears or all smiles. La, la, you make me vexed." And in the same breath she would ch.sp the slender form to her in a spasm ol adoring love. And so it was settled. Alix had dreamed of it for a week or inore —seven days and seven nights, s'he said, because, cf course, who couid sleep when Fate has justhanded you so cheery a bouquet —and in Decern be; ! They would go to London—she and madame—and see the King and Queen, and the great palace wherein th-y lived. She remembered the exquisitely lovely English girl, Elizabeth. Collins, who had shared her convent days, and who had filled the ears of the girls with stories of London days and London shops; t ie parks, the great houses and hotels wiere the rich and famous lived. "Alix!" came tho peremptory voice of madame. " Oui, madame. How cross you sound. One would think I were four—five —six . . I would have you remember I am eighteen last September, and thin is midDecember." Skipping along the narrow passigc, and meeting madame on the threshold of the sitting room, she made an obeisance, saying, with pretty grace. " I tm Alix Julienno Maubort, please. An heiress of *hoi t duration. Mako your curtsey, madame—and you may kiss my hand!" " Kiss your hand and curtsey! Irn more likely to try and shako some sense into your darling head!" Ciel' You're as soft as pollen on a bee's wing. But, listen, madame. Hie very hour of this very day next week do you realise wo shall be in London, and who knows, may have seen the King and Queen," bowing roguishly. And so it was They had a rough crossing, and Alix, unaccustomed to tho sea and boats, was ill and peeved, declaring that land was her delight, to which madame responded: " You've lost your looks Your eves are green, and your complexion like the saffron voS. bought for last ween's cake!" tilting the wistful face Upwn ids " Oh, don't tease, Jourey. I feel like R rag doll that's been flung from side to side. Are our things ready? Have a car called, and let us get to our hotel." A clock struck the hour. Aj.ix raised herself froni the luxurious couch on which she had flung herself on reaching her apartment.

}si rs*Ss!'''ssZ'*ss''''srsZs''s'fZsss'''""" " Madame!" sho called, in her highpitched voice. " I am hero, cherie," said mndame, stepping from behind a brocaded screen. " And you aro better, I can see. You are no longer saffron, but like a dewy snowdrop. Come, let. mo help you dress." " Dress! Oh, do you realise, this is my first appearance in the salle a manger! lam like a jelly. Now, go and look at the frocks that have arrived. There is the wild rose tulle, and the harebell blue with the big bow at the side. Which shall it. be? I love tho wild rose—l adore the bluo . . "Bless you, cherie, tlio tulle, 1 think. Your dark hair and your magnolia skin will look adorable." And so it was. When they entered the. great and glittering salle a manger, many eyes were turned to look again upon the slender guest. " What chic!" whispered Lady ilalford to her brother, Lord Derrington. "Cliic! Rather! And did you ever see such slendernoss : I wonder who slfe is ?" Meantime, Alix was fluttering inwardly like a little'caged canary. ' " Ciel, inadanie, is it not wonderful ? I never dreamed in my wildest moments, there were such lovely chandeliers as those," eves uplifted. "Hush, cherie! Everyone is looking this way." " Who cares ? I love niv little frock, and yours, too. Do you see that girl in the scarlet on our right? Is she not a handsome creature? And (ho gentleman with the lady in silver sequins, opposite." <i "Oh. don't, look; tlio gentleman is staring over here. . ' Why not? He likes our frocks, no doubt. They aro tlie prettiest in the room. Why, I ask, should he not stare ?'•' And this was Alix's introduction to tlio guests. Tlio glitter, the flowers, the superb lighting, the low, animated murmur of voices, intoxicated her. .The following two day's she and madame revelled in the shops, deciding to ' do* the principal sights later. In their hearts both Alix and madame felt a little lonely. So many peoplo came and went, and always madamo realised Alix was the centre of attraction. And who could wonder? For Alix was so heavenly sweet in her Paris frocks and out-of-door attire. Meantime. Alix was deliciously aware of the gentleman who escorted the lady in the silver gown the night sho and madarno made their introduction, to .the salle a manger. Whenever Alix was near, ho was conscious of her presence. She could " feel" those nice, quiet eyes of his upon her, and she wished she knew him personally. Later, following madame into dinner, she realised he was immediately behind them -. . and somewhere from her cloudy tulle, there fell a rose. . .

" Your flower, mam'selle," said ho quietly, stepping to her side. Her starry eyes met his. i " Merci, M'sieu !" Bowing ever so slightly he turned to [ ward his table to the left. Arid that was how.it all began. Within a clay or so, .Mix and madame felt quite at home with him. " You've been dreaming all your days of English lords and ladies," said madame, " and here is one ready to fall at your little feet." " Oh, hush, madame, hush! Lord Derrington wants to be kind to us aiyl help us know London well before we return to France." "Tusl;! He's got a keen eye for a pretty face, elierie. Jourey wasn't born but yesterday." Now, it happened on the third week of their stay, he joined them at tea. Alix, lovely in a new suit and hat, was loving the music of the orchestra. " Oh, madame, is it not all wonderful ?" she whispered into Jourey's ears. "To live like this for always and forever, would not that be divine?" Tears sprang to her eyes, knowing that soon they both would be returning to the humble home tucked amid the lonely hills of Teulcn. And, m'sieu, the English lord ?" The next moment he was joining them. " Well," said he, I've a proposition to put before you," laughing pleasantly. " My sister, Lady Halford, is giving a ball' at her London hcuse to-morrow. Would you care for an invitation ?" He smiled adorably, and Alix fluttered like a butterfly. " Oh, indeed, I should adore it. . . but, madame, I know, would not accompany me. . eyeing madame appealingly. " Xo Monsieur, but I'd so much like mam'selle to accept. She is young, you understand ?" " 01" course, madame. And I can promise you my sister ,will chaperone mam'selle," smiling into Alix's animated little face. A great fluttering ensued. All the following day Alix fiitted here and there. " Which frock, madame, shall it be?" she asked. " Here's the scarlet with the silver roses at the waist . . . the hyacinth blue"studded with' diamante; the briar rose pi::k all billowy and flounced. Ciel! But I love them ail," dancing this way and that. '* The pink. Ah... It. tints your creamy skin." And so the pink it. was. " A darling child Hugh," said Lady Halford to her brother. " .So sweet and unspoilt, but, pray, bo careful, do, frowning. " Remember, a Derrington cannot make a mesalliance," pinching his elbow. " A Derrington, if he's worth his salt, dear-girl, will marry where his heart dictates." Her ladyship became peeved. Alix might b c all that could be desired in appearance, quality of mind, and in education, but she was of huiiiblo origin. " No, Hugh, please do be serious, T implore you. It is apparent the child is rich, but riches need have 110 weight with you. The Derrington'coffers are full enough. ." Lord Derrington smiled, enigmatically, it may be said, up his sleeve. Sisters were all alike. It was a wonderful ball, Alix told madame 011 awakening next day somewhere about 10 a.m. " There were lovely women, and, oh, such pretty girls, so—so distingue." " Oh. yes, of course," exclaimed madame. " the English girls are like that . . and did they appear impressed with you 1" laughing. , " They talked about me, I know that, and one grande dp no asked Lady Halford whoso family I belonged to—tho Northern Bouveries, or tho Southern,' 1 ' laughing.

"Ciel! And you belong to neither!" laughed madame. "No! And another grando dame called mo a poem in porcelain. Lord Derrington told me that! Do you not think I shall grow vain, madame ? Behold me, say, on our return to Loudon! All the dear things in petticoats I shall condescend to know—Desireo, and Albertine, Blanche and ITihingarde. . . La, madame, what fun it all will be," smiling roguishly. And so the days went on. To this theatre and that; a concert in the Albert Hall; tei at the Ambassadors, and always escorted l>v Lord Derrington. Alix blossomed into radiant loveliness, for happiness born of love has a trick that way. But happiness is often fleeting, and so the end came. The bankbook was now a poor and apologetic reminder of yesterday's riches. " Just enough to get us home, madame," confided Alix tlio morning of their departure. " I hope (ho sun is shining when we reach Toulon. England has given us much rain, while wo have been here," sadly. "Tiens! It is the season for rain, clrtM'ie. You are distrait because wo are going back to our little home among our beloved hills." " I love my little home, madame, but I am sad to be saying good-bye to England. We have had so gay a time. People have been so very kind to us." " Dm But good times como again, cherie," said madame, brightly, as sho fastened her grey wig more securely to her head. " History repeats itself." Alix thought her very cheerful, considering their_ good time was past. There would be no more rushing from this place to that in a shining limousine the colour of the sky at dusk... No more jaunts with Lord Derrington; or petito cakes of pink icing adorned with angelicaj no more wonderful ices frothed with cream in pink. . . Only the green hills grown lonely, the humble cottage walls, greyer, older. . A tear fell upon the busy little, hands that fumbled with a button on her golden suit. " You're not crying, petite?" whispered madame. " No, no. l! is just becauso I have grown to love all this," said Alix, sweeping her hand around. " 1 like the bustle of life; the noise; tlio hum and stir of London tradio; tlio..peoplo who come all day and go; the frocks, and, oh, madame, a hundred other old things besides," smiling even as sue brushed a tear away. "Come, we are both trieste, cherie; but we will, perhaps, feel better when we settle down. " Jo vois la France," biiathed Alix to madamo as they leaned over the railing of the channel steamer that was carrying them into port. " You arc unhappy, cherie, at leaving England and all those charming friends you made, who were so kind to you. It is hut natural. But you love your own country, and soon you will settle down to life, as we knew it, of old." " Oui. madame. Life is always a matter of readjustment. Wo will, no doubt, be quite happy again." And so it was. The cottage, with its walls and doors of painted green, looked shabby and sad,

when they arrived. Bolover, the cat, sat on the doorstep as though expecting them, and a few flowers struggled to look their best in the small front garden; but, to Alix nothing she had ever loved about tho little home could be dear, she felt, again. Time passed, and Christmas drew near. Preceding the event Alix stood one evening at her window, watching the gathering shadows of twilight as she pondered over the months since their return. The pine wood lay over to the right; the trees were bare and dismal, canopied by a sky of purple grey. Alix's mind was at this moment fixed upon this same time twelve months ago. The year had been, she thought, monotonously depressing. Hadame was older a year, and her temper had sharpened a little by reason of Alix's dismr.l moods. To-dav, Alix wore a trim little suTt of grey, and in her leather belt she had tucked a spike of juniper. The sun paled; fell at last behind the sharp-ridged hill ... a little gust of wind shook the cottage l'jds.y. '"lt is going to bo a r.ig'.rt of storm, mr.aa:r.2," cried Alix, " ar.d I suppose wo may expect a dismal Christrnrs, too. Aii, me, if only another legacy would come so that we could fly away, just once again !" "Who knows!" said madame, striving to be bright. " There's your Uncle Andre arid Aunt Stephanie—who knows!" Evening followed, and silence brooded like a cloak of pity over the, little home,, imbusing it with wistful quietude. The gate clicked, and swung upon its hinges. Bolover, the cat, stirred on his rug beside the fire. "Someone comes!" said madame, from her chair. " It. is the wind!" said Alix, softly. " There's someone coming down the flags," continued madame. " A beggar—perhaps," Alix replied. A knock sounded. Madame rose and went toward the. door, and as sho opened it, the wind sprang in. " (loud evening, madame," said tho visitor. "Do you remember mc'!" " Certainly. It is Lord Derrington." said madame quietly. " Come in. We are alone—Alix and I." Following her into the living room, where the dusk still was, he could discern only the outline of Alix, who stood unsteadily behind a straight-backed chair. "Lord Derrington!" said she. Ho took in his her little outstretched hand. Her soul was in her eyes, but that ho did not know, because the shadows of tho evening bid them from him. " Alix," said he, " I've travelled all the way from England to see you again." " A long way, sir, to find a liumblo French girl." He could not take it. all in. The surroundings told of genteel poverty. He felt completely nonplussed. " Alix you have a story to tell mc. I know it by your eyes. Do not bo shy. I have yearned ever since we said farewell a year ago, to come across and find you. You see, my dear, I love you!" 111 the heart of Alix a great joy sprang into being. He loved her! And so the little story was revealed. Hut when she raised her eyes to his, sho was amazed to find him quietly laughing. She felt humiliated. " Why do you laugh ?" she asked. " Becauso it's such a pretty story. So natural, cherio, A little girl inherits a modest little fortune,' and decides to see life—and there you are—a novel in a nutshell. When the fortune has melted away, she goes back to her modest little horn, amongst the hills, to be poor forever more, unless the prince comes to rescue her—there always is the prince, of course —and takes her back to fairyland. And that was how madame and Alix went back to London.