CHAPTER I. THE MISTRESS OF CANEMA.

"Ididn'tpresumetocomment,MissNina.Whathavewehere?—Mme.LesCartes,$450?" "Oh,Harry,thathorridMme.LesCartes!Youneversawanythinglikeher!Positivelyitisnotmyfault.SheputsdownthingsInevergot:Iknowshedoes.NothingintheworldbutbecausesheisfromParis.Everybodyiscomplainingofher.But,then,nobodygetsanythinganywhereelse.Sowhatcanonedo,youknow?Iassureyou,Harry,Iameconomical." Theyoungman,whohadbeensumminguptheaccounts,nowburstoutintosuchaheartylaughassomewhatdisconcertedthefairrhetorician. Shecoloredtohertemples. "Harry,now,forshame!Positively,youaren'trespectful!" "Oh,MissNina,onmykneesIbegpardon!"stillcontinuingtolaugh"but,indeed,youmustexcuseme.Iampositivelydelightedtohearofyoureconomy,MissNina." "Well,now,Harry,youmaylookatthebillsandsee.Haven'tIrippedupallmysilkdressesandhadthemcoloredover,justtoeconomize?Youcanseethedyer'sbill,thereandMme.Carteautoldmeshealwaysexpectedtoturnmydressestwice,atleast.Oh,yes,Ihavebeenveryeconomical." "Ihaveheardofolddressesturnedcostingmorethannewones,MissNina." "Oh,nonsense,Harry!Whatshouldyouknowofgirls'things?ButI'lltellyouonethingI'vegot,Harry,andthatisagoldwatchforyou.Thereitis,"throwingacasecarelesslytowardshim"andthere'sasilkdressforyourwife,"throwinghimalittleparcel."Ihavesenseenoughtoknowwhatagoodfellowyouare,atanyrate.Icouldn'tgoonasIdo,ifyoudidn'trackyourpoorheadfiftywaystokeepthingsgoingstraighthereathomeforme." Ahostofconflictingemotionsseemedtocrosstheyoungman'sface,likeashadowofcloudsoverafield,ashesilentlyundidthepackages.Hishandstrembled,hislipsquivered,buthesaidnothing. "Come,Harry,don'tthissuityou?Ithoughtitwould." "MissNina,youaretookind." "No,I'mnot,HarryIamaselfishlittleconcern,that'safact,"saidshe,turningaway,andpretendingnottoseethefeelingwhichagitatedhim. "But,Harry,wasn'titdroll,thismorning,whenallourpeoplecameuptogettheirpresents!TherewasAuntSue,andAuntTike,andAuntKate,eachonegotanewsackpattern,inwhichtheyaregoingtomakeuptheprintsIbroughtthem.Inabouttwodaysourplacewillbeflamingwithapronsandsacks.AnddidyouseeAuntRoseinthatpinkbonnet,withtheflowers?Youcouldseeeverytoothinherhead!Ofcourse,nowthey'llbetakenwithaverypiousstreak,togotosomecamp-meetingorother,toshowtheirfinery.Whydon'tyoulaugh,Harry?" "Ido,don'tI,MissNina?" "Youonlylaughonyourface.Youdon'tlaughdeepdown.What'sthematter?Idon'tbelieveit'sgoodforyoutoreadandstudysomuch.Papausedtosaythathedidn'tthinkitwasgoodfor"— Shestopped,checkedbytheexpressiononthefaceofherlistener. "Forservants,MissNina,yourpapasaid,Isuppose." Withthequicktactofhersex,Ninaperceivedthatshehadstrucksomedisagreeablechordinthemindofherfaithfulattendant,andshehastenedtochangethesubject,inhercareless,rattlingway. "Why,yes,Harry,studyishorridforyou,ormeeither,oranybodyelse,exceptmustyoldpeople,whodon'tknowhowtodoanythingelse.Dideveranybodylookoutofdoors,suchapleasantdayasthis,andwanttostudy?Thinkofabird'sstudying,now,orabee!Theydon'tstudy—theylive.Now,Idon'twanttostudy—Iwanttolive.Sonow,Harry,ifyou'lljustgettheponiesandgointhewoods,Iwanttogetsomejessamines,andspringbeauties,andwildhoneysuckles,andalltherestoftheflowersthatIusedtogetbeforeIwenttoschool."