“PROS AND CONS.”

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3673, 24 February 1899, Page 2

“PROS AND CONS.”

UIiAMATIS PERSONA!: r ■ Lady, Janet Esteourt.,, i ’ Miss'. FanconTf. ,'Paying .guest. and ‘‘ ~/”clmpet{me(l -by-Lady - ‘.)aue,l;'\ l /. Flox&l Niece to pady Jaiie)/.' Scene. Lady Janet’s drawing-room. Miss Pancourt: Do give me your advice dear Lady Janet; I don’t know what to do*;about Sir'Ambrose Chichester / Lady Janet; What about him Miss F.; AVell, you see, I am perfectly certain he intends to propose to me as soon as he, gets the opportunity. -Lady .T.: Then, dear girl, give him the opportunity, and don’t waste his time and your own in philandering. Miss P.: Yes, but I haven’t cpiite made up my mind about accepting him. He is not so very well off, you know, and he is too fond of the country—which, you know, I detest. It is only fit for pigs and manure and cows and milkmaids; and I should positively die of stagnation if I had to spend three-parts of a year at Woodleigh—his place, you know Lady .1.: Then why think of it at all. Miss P.: AVell, you see. Sir Ambrose is of very good family, he is distinguishedlooking, and is somebody. Then he has such charming manners, and admires me immensely: and I should, for many reasons, like to be Lady Chichester. Unfortunately, we are nouveaux riches; therefore ft is absolutely ..necessary, for me to ally myself with la noblesse, and Sir Ambrose’s blood is blue enough, in all conscience. I almost wish I had let him jjropose last night' at Lady Darcy’s ball. I knew he was on the verge, but not having quite made up my mind, I turned the conversation most adroitly—for I am sure he had no suspicion that I did it on purpose I should think he is sure to call to-day, as I told him I should be in from 4 to G. Lady J. (dryly): Then you’ll have to give him an answer I think, if I were you, I’d jot down the " fors ” and " againsts ” and see which predominate. Miss F.: What a good idea—so I will. (She seats herself at a writing-table, carefully selects a pen, and writes the’ headings on two half-sheets of paper - , "Pros” —“ Cons.” Lady Janet continues her work, which is designing a pattern for lace.) There! it’s done, ond the "pros” predominate, so I must make up my mind to become' Lady Chichester. Oh, well, I don’t suppose it will be a bad sort of fate; and lots of women will envy me, which, is consoling. Those Hungerford women, both mother and daughter, have been angling for him all the season, and have developed wrinkles in consequence. Lady ,J.:. I suppose you are really sure that Sir Ambrose is serious. It would be a pity,for you.fo bruld hopes that—— Miss P.: Might come to nothing? Never fear; I’m not that sort. Sir Ambrose is too serious, dear Lady Janet. By the‘bye, when I am Lady Chichester I will do something for that little niece of yours; she’s a pretty little thing, and might make a good match. Now I .think of it. Sir Ambrose was talking to me about her last night—praising you for befriending a penniless orphan. And I saw him dancing with her more than once. So kind of him, wasn't it ? Lady J.: Very. But I daresay he liked it; men don’t often do things not ideasing Miss F.: Nor-women ‘either nowadays, I fancy. I must persuade Sir Ambrose to spend at least half the year in town, and the other half fill AVoodleigh with visitors. You’ll come, won’t you —and bring Flora., We’ll find somebody eligible for her. Ah! here she comes. My dear child, how radiant you looy. Flora: Kiss me, Aunt Janet. I’m as happy as a skylark. Lady J.: What has happened? You look as if you’d had a fortune left yon Flora:. There are things better than fortunes , Miss P.: AVhat? Flora: Proposals, Both: Proposals. Flora: Yes; I’m engaged. Both: Good heavens! To whom ? Flora (laughing mischievously): To whom do you think ? Lady J.: : Not Captain Ray, I hope. Flora (disdainfully): Capfain Ray, indeed ! Miss F..: Don’t keep us in suspense, child. I expect it’s some younger son who hasn’t a penny to keep,you with. ; Flora: He is not a younger son,-apd has enough for us both; and, I think. Aunt Janet, you like him very much. Lady J.; (colouring and looking startled) :' Not Sir - '■ Flora : Yes. Allow me to introduce myself as the future Lady Chichester.. Oh, Miss Fancourt, you’ve upset the ink all over that paper; I hope its not important. Miss F.; Not lit the least; but I believe there is some on my gown I must go and change it. i (Exit Miss Fancourt.) ’■; Flora: She didn’t congratulate me, Aunt Janet. , Lady J.: No, dear, she was upset—about the ink,. perhaps You must be content with my congratulations, which are very sincere. lam so glad. Flora; you are a very lucky girl. Flora : Lucky! and oh, so happy. —“ The Lady’s World.”;