THE DEVIL AND THE DINER-OUT.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXII, Issue XVII, 29 April 1899, Page 550

THE DEVIL AND THE DINER-OUT.

(By

Lewis Darcy.)

The Silence Room of the Woman’s Club

Two women, the one in furs, the other in eoat and skirt, sat over the register, effective! y and admirably blocking out the warmth from any other possible occupants of the room. 'That a third member was present was vaguely indicated by certain topfeathers of a hat. visible over the back of an arm-chair at the far end of the room, tier presence did not seem tG concern either of the other two, if indeed they were conscious of it. The woman in furs unfastened her sable cape and lent back luxuriously in her chair. She was obviously accustomed to the good things of life ♦Such a comfort to have a quiet place like this where one can talk. Really one of the great advantages of a club. It’s the only’ room T know where one can be sure of having an undisturbed gossip. Not that I myself see why one shouldn’t have a Silence Room in one’s own house to talk in. It would be most useful. How does the idea strike you?’ The smaller woman in the coat laughed a little. ‘Admirable and most original. Only, you see. I haven’t got an “own house-’ 1 at all.’ The other stretched her patent leather shoe nearer the fire. ‘Of course not. How stupid of me! Really, we haven’t met since we were girls at. school, and then you were always at the top of the class, and I at the bottom.’ Again the little woman laughed. ‘And now —nous avons change tout * cela—and it’s you who are at the very top of the social class and I at the bottom. You have your house in town. I my apartments somewhere. You have your carriages and your horses, and your thousands a year, and 1 am— ’ She paused. ‘You are? What are you? Of late years, what with one thing and another. 1 have rather lost sight of you. It’s quite curious that we should belong to the same club.’ There was a note of unconscious patronage in her voice which the other was quick to resent. ‘Most curious.’ she replied drily, ‘considering what we both are.’ ‘But what are you? You said just now you were a Worker. Do you type-write or draw posters, or are you a governess or journalist? There are so many things onen to women nowadays. T’m told. What are you? Do tell me.*

"A devil.’ said the little woman, shortly. ’What do you mean? What . . . what . . sort of a devil are you?’ The little woman sat bolt upright and pushed her ehair back from the tire. ‘lll tell you fast enough: but you won’t like it. You agree. 1 suppose that whether you are capable of it or not, you are expected to talk at a dinner party. Very well then. Now, have you ever, instead of talking yourself, amused yourself listening to other people? Have you ever heard the woman next but one to you discussing the latest Dang essay, as though she was fresh from reading it; giving her views upon the latest political development, as though she eared for nothing else; speaking of the last scientific discovery with a certain

smattering- of knowledge: talking, with easy fluency, upon any subject you please?’ ‘Yes; .1 know. But 1 never seem to find time for anything, myself: but I suppose other people do, somehow.’ ‘They don’t, they couldn’t, it would be a physical impossibility; that is where I come in. That is where 1 pander to the spirit of the Time—superficiality. I read; I cram; I digest; 1 devil! Not. a novel, not a biography, not a magazine comes out that I do not study; not a paper —financial, religious, sporting, theatrical, political, educational—that I do not read. It’s work. I can tell you. Then, in the evenings—the half-hour before they dress for dinner is their favourite time, for then they need not strain their memories for too long a stretch — I go round to my ladies. This one

says to me: ‘1 dine at Mrs So-and-So’s to-night. It’s a political house.’ Out comes my note-book; 1 turn up politics, and, in ten minutes, she is an fait with all the latest developments.’ ‘But ’ T invented it; I saw the void; I rushed it. Now I am indispensable." ‘Do many people ?’ The little woman nodded her head mysteriously. The woman in the furs gave a sigh. •Do you think’—she hesitated—‘do you think you could come and—’ ’Cram you ? Of course.’ ‘But if you came to me . you would be quite certain . . . I mean you’d promise me faithfully to keep it. a secret. Xo one would know anything about it — that 1 hadn’t really read the things, you know.’ "I can’t afford to run risks with my bread and butter. It would ruin me. \\ by, only this very morning 1 had a new client who before we started work, did her very best to get me to swear a solemn. - serious oath that I would never reveal her name! A woman that, who goes everywhere, has a great reputation as a talker in a certain set that thinks itself monstrous clever and well-read.’ ’And her name was—?’ She bent forward, her eyes wide open with expectation: gossip was the breath of her nostrils. At that moment, the woman at the far end of the room flung down her paper and rose from her chair, pushing it back noisily. She walked down the room to the door, and as she passed the speakers, she looked at them. There was an odd expression of cunning upon her face as she nodded to the lady in the furs, but a glare of someting akin to rage in the glance she threw at the other woman. The door banged behind her. ’And she knows that you said you were coming to teach ’ me. . . . She knows all about it. . . . And she’ll give me away right and left.’ ’I don’t somehow think that you need be very much afraid that she’ll give you away; but neither do 1 think that J shall see much more of my client of this morning.’ ‘You mean—’ ’Nothing. Only I’m irot quite so sure now- are you?—that the Silence Boom of a club is the best place to talk in. 1 1

■ I never liefore saw so much and such varied information contained in one book.’ VALUABLE TESTIMONY FROM A PRACTICAL FARMER. Park Hoad, Palmerston North, I am greatly pleased with * Brett s Colonists’ Guide and Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge (new edition),’ a copy of which I purchased through Mr A. McMinn, and which 1 have now had time to look through carefully. I consider it the best and most useful book of its kind 1 have yet met with, as it contains a large amount of practical information on all subjects of interest to those who follow farming pursuits. It is a book which every settler should have in his house, as the various hints and points which aie given in it will be found simply invaluable in many of the emergencies which arise from time to time. 1 am convinced that the information given in all the chapters has been most carefully compiled, and is thoroughly accurate and reliable. Taken altogether, it is one of the most complete works of its kind I have seen, and I am simply astonished at the wide range of information which it contains on all the subjects treated upon. It is a book which should have a very extensive sale on its merits alone. Perhaps it may be thought I am praising the book too highly, but I am giving my honest conviction when I say that 1 doubt very much if even the publisher himself realises what an excellent book he has given the farming community. I may add that I have had long experience'in general farm work, cropping, manuring. Working the soil, together with the care and management of horses, and therefore 1 am in a position to know what agricultural information should be if it is to be of any practical utility to the farmer. I cannot speak in too high terms of the excellent matter contained in the ‘ Colonists’ Guide,’ dealing as it does with everything that a farmer can possibly require to know in his daily occupation. I never before saw so much and sueh varied information contained in one book, and 1 would not be without my ‘ Guide ’ on any account. Every time I take it up I learn something useful from its pages. E. WHITE.