Well, Good-bye.

Otago Witness, Issue 2621, 8 June 1904, Page 77

Well, Good-bye.

Absent-minded politeness . ; s sometimes very funny, and goes to show how strongly habit dominates .us, all unconsciously tc ourselves. " I beg your pardon," exclaimed a majestic-looking woman as she stepped inadvertently on the tta.il of a largo cat which Was sunning itself before the steps of a Belgravian mansion, and which disappeared with a squall down the area Then, realising that ahe had begged the pardon of a cat, she looked furtively round in an embarrassed manner to see if anyone overheard her, and meeting th© involuntary smile on the face, of a passer-by, coloured high, and walked on in a most dignified manner. Another absent-minded wo-maa who was apt to be rather cold in her manner with her servants, treating them as if they were machines, had a large house party at her country place recently. After her usual Sun-day inspection of tho .«"i!ablos wittih some of her guests, she .stood talking for a few moments with the head gioom about some of the ihorses. Then, to the- astonishment of the womion who were with her, and th© embarrassment of (the man, she concluded) wMi one of her most gracious society smiles, " Well, T must be going. Goocl-bye !" The .groom touched his cap. " Good-byo, nia'am," he responded, feebly. Then she suddenly remembeored herself, but feeling that any b&trayal of the consciousness of her mistake would be out of place, waited until they were well away from the stables before laughing at the -joke upon bersalf among her friends, who, however, would not let the matter rest, and whenever the occas'on presented itself, continued to quote, "Well, we must 'be going. Good-byo!"