Chapter XXXII.

Otago Witness, Issue 2295, 24 February 1898, Page 41

Chapter XXXII.

Kitty, the Shrew. HEBE was a passion of admiring ax>d affectionate regard for Sir Georpe Fairfax in the heart of Kitty Ductlas as her childhood's friend turned away through the stable yard, leaving her beside her (alas I they were tbe very words of the impetuous cMldwifo) horrid, nasty, old husband. It must be confessed that the admiral did not cut, a very taking figure by contrast with Sir George, either as regards head, heart, or person. In the first place, Kitty was an enthusiast in her loves and a sadly good hater. For anyone to fail to perceive the attractions of thoae who attracted her was for that person to be "so stupid." In Kitty's acceptance of the admiral's proposal cf marriage there was the one redeeming grace of a wish to be influential for the good of the family at the vicarage. The one hope of a happy issue to tbe venture was that she was heart-whole. Not very long had she emerged from the hobbledehoy stsge, when shoulders will project themselves through arrangements intended to covw them, when an older girl i 3 unmercifully quizzed for being found alone with a portrait or a letter, and wben the front saat in the game of life seems fco have been assigned to those who have unlimited chocolate to eat during the reading of boys' story-bocks. When a pony was always available for an unattended scamper anywhere, and when one had the compensation for one's hair having to be put up that one's dress was fully down, there remained very little more for the heart cf Kitty to desire. Young and old of us, we like best to do

what we do bash. It is impossible to guess I how much of Kitty's continuance ia con- ! nubial well-doing really depended upon her having made so good a start. It was by bearing in raicd how easily she had delighted her grandfatherly wooer by her reference to age that she encouruged herself to get through certain wifely observances and obediences towards which love did not beckon her. But Kitty was, as she said herself, getting "tobe a big girl now." The role of official flatterer to a vain and selfish old man was beginning to pall upon her. Wondering how her hu3band could care for such stereotyped blandishments, she began to feel frome impatience and even disgust with herself for according them. "For the dad's sake," " Mater would like me to get on well with the admiral" — these were the incantations she had To use wherewith to exorcise demons of rebellion, distaste, and even contempt, which daily made deeper incursions into her Eden ! • j But; the sturdiest blow levelled at her con- I nubial toleration power was dealt by her spouse himself when he took a severely v-ir- ; tuous attitude as regards Isabel's disappear- I ance from her home. I "It is such a stupid way to go on I " she muttered argrily to herself when, later, she went out for a stormy walk and sat alone in a summer hcuse, the only approach to which she could command from where she sat. "It does not take any cleverness to say that if a wife can stay with a husband it is better to do so. It will one day come to be a question for the consideration of others besides dear, darling Isabel, I know. Bui. there may be some cleverness, in grasping that, before such a girl as she would leave our blessed, splendid, loving George, there must have been somethirg more than the only thing the admiral can think of the matter. In his beastly, stupid, small mind there can be no reason for anything; the least bit, out of the common bui badness. He thinks anyone who would go away must; be false. I say there must have been some aspect of the affair involving the service of truth before onr Isabel would give up the happinesses she has told me of and lay herself open to be whined over by a cad iike the admiral 1 He talks of falseness, forsooth ! Oce need not obj&ct to his teeth : *hey are wanted for speech and for earing, though he need not hava bad even them co dipgustit'gly and impossibly small and white and regular. Bat ' false,' forsooth, with an ink-black beard that is white at the roots ! He to say that Isabel | is ' false ' when the old idiot's waist is laced I sateen and his manly bosom is cotton wool I " " ' No doubt,' he opened, c the silly flatteries of some empty-hendid lover have drawn her away from her home.' Just as if Eogland and Spain together could have given Isabel a haudsomer, more generous, or mors loving lover than G-torge ! Eot ! I know I was brought up in the darling old dad's vicarage, within sound of &c , Sec, and that I am a married ' leddy ' in an undeniable social position. But when nobody can hear, I shall say what I like, or else I sball scream the next time the admiral goes on ! "And, thea, that fuss about the starchy old cook ! Oh, lam glad Isabel had told her George all about her life in Spain. That plum is taken out of the beast'a cake. I tried to feel murderous when she threw out feelers ao to whether I should like to be told something compromising about her ladyship; but I could work up nothing mors serious than the desire to tuck up my skirts and get away without her touching them. I am glad the slut i« gone ! That is en improper word even for Kitty Featheretone, much more for Mrs Dandas. But I don't care ! I enjoy using it, and the others, while I am thinking of the admiral, and such like I "But now lam better ! I shall just think one good thought of that noble George, and of darling Isabe?, and of poor raater, and sweet patient old dad, who is a real Christian, while I am a bad, wicked woman. Bnt, anyhow, T "am not pretending ! I like it I Is is lovely and comfortable to be bad, and say thing's ! I know It is v/rong, just as well an you do 1 " said Kitty, in a tone of flcalit.y, and addressing an abstraction ; " but I feel better now, and the admiral shall go a whi:e looerer without, guessing that I know about his Bloom of Baghdad when I tell him he has such a pretty colour to-day S Ugh I Ugh ! Sfcnpid, laced, painted, lavondergcented, urlv, old silly I I hace you 1 " Kitty's rustic arbour coraiaandec!, as bas

been said, the only pain that lad to ic. It | was only when she was secure of being alone that she relieved her mind as we have seen. Let those, even of riper yearß, who have never taken a new lease of patience by the use of an expletive cast the first stone ai her. It was, in every way, horrible to find herself face to face with a stranger!