The Dull Miss Archinard

t extend to family relationships; he often found family relationships a bore, and the c

ed about the drawin

be surprised if he should have to sell the horses. "And what my life w

who had joined their father and mother after their own tea and a game of lawn-tennis. But Mrs.

t she laid down the volume of

rles? Either they or you had best go

Captain shortly. "No, o

ents without being made to suffer b

for the asking. You're only too willing to offer

ful resignation and, after twenty minutes of silence

must brush her hair; it was early yet. This was a customary task, and one that Hilda prided herself upon

d slippers she ran

s fine as Hilda's-fell over the back of t

began to pass it slowly and gently down the length of hair. "I

nly fond of his pretty wife, but he was so fretful and impatient, and mamma so continually grieved. It was all wrong. Hilda had al

go, wouldn't it?" she said. Her father's bad tem

leasant episodes-dainty dishes especially prepared, visits from acquaintances, with whom she had a reputation for languid cynicism and quite awesome literary and artistic cleverness-to this hour of hair-brushing, few of her moments were not consciously appreciative of the most finely flavored mental and physical enjoyment. But the causes for enjoyment certainly seemed so slight that Mrs. Archinard's graceful pe

nd enjoying a sense of talent flowing at all costs-for writing by candlelight was strictly forbidden-as she d

ght take an artistic pleasure in braving rules, but Katherine knew that Hilda would have shown an almost dull amazement at her occupation; and although Katherine characteri

d, as Hilda got into the little bed beside hers. "Only

pa," Hil

comes to the worst. You won't miss it as much as I will, Hilda; the riding, yes, no doubt, but not the hunting. Still Lord Mainwaring will give us a mount, and now that Mr. Odd is

into the soft darkness of the room. The windows were open, a

re you, Hilda," Katherine re

an alarmed note. Katherine was

course you are only a little girl, bu

who treats one so kindly. And then-anyway-even if h

y to analyze her sensations and win her s

but restraining wisdom; "one shouldn't let one's feelings run away

es, p

art a big hole-a hole with stones and weeds in it." Katherine was quoting from her journal, but Hilda might as well think the sim

in silent

at," she said at last. "How beautiful! Yes, I am sure he has a hole in

thouten any

pleased with the success of her psycholo

you think so?

ilda, for when Darwin came in she laughed a lot at the name

likes other

ly. "Miss Odd of course we have ha

ou? She has such a c

other people as she would be on herse

could be quite sure about one's own wrongness, but how can one abo

just. As for Lord Allan, he is a sort of t

pe of

a strong sense of responsibility. Jimmy Hope is just like him, which is a

able sense of competence. She doubted whether

n unpleasant dreamin

lda?" She spoke crossly

Hilda half sobbed. "How g

l crossly; severity she thought the

e; I was choking, and my legs and

leep now," Kat

, but presently a small, su

n't be angry-might I come

she put her arms very fondly around her shiverin

tle Hilda,