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Page 8
Presently "Cawcus," her pet Rook, came fluttering amid the leaves,
and began to caw. RUBY offered him bits of Bath bun, and even a whole
three-corner, in order to keep him quiet.
But he remembered his treatment at breakfast, and refused all
these bribes with scorn. He declined to be petted, he continued to
hover over the tree, and circle around it, giving vent to the most
discordant shrieks. Presently she heard the clear measured tones of
her Mamma's voice saying, "RUBY, come down at once. I know you are
up in the elm." Cawcus, whom she had maltreated, had betrayed her
hiding-place.
RUBY dared not disobey. Quite subdued, and with garments grievously
greened, she descended. Mamma took her little daughter indoors, and
improved the occasion. RUBY eventually appeared, with tears in her
eyes, and subsequently apologised to her governess, recited the page
of French phrases without a mistake, and promised to be a good girl.
Though she sometimes forgot herself, and was rude to Miss DUMBELL
afterwards, she never failed to treat Cawcus the Rook with most
profound consideration and reverence.
* * * * *
TO MELENDA.
(_A SET OF VERSES ACCOMPANYING A PHOTOGRAPH._)
[Illustration]
I remember--do you?--the remarkable sky light
That flooded the heavens one evening in May,
How together we talked _t�te-�-t�te_ in the twilight,
When the glow of the sunset had faded away.
Then you showed me your album. I looked at its pages.
With yourself as my guide and companion went through
Its contents--there were people of all sorts and ages,
But the portrait I fancied the most was--of you.
And you saw that I did. Which perhaps was the reason
Of your "No!" when I asked "May I have it?" You swore
You were going to be shot at the close of the season,
And you couldn't spare that, as there weren't any more.
But at length I prevailed, or at least you relented,
After ever so many excuses--in fine
We agreed to a compact, you only consented
On condition I gave you a portrait of mine.
Well, I promised, of course. And I write you these verses
With your face--you'll forgive me--quite close to my own.
There's a charm in your look that completely disperses
All my cares in a way that is yours, dear, alone.
And although I am pleased, since I won in the end--a
More ridiculous bargain has never, I vow,
Been arranged than a picture of pretty MELENDA,
In exchange for the photograph sent to you now.
We did not meet again through some horrible blunder,
Which a merciless Fate must be asked to explain,
And I sometimes sit smoking, and wearily wonder
If I ever _am_ destined to see you again.
Yet wherever the future may possibly find you,
To this final request do not answer me Nay,
When I ask that this gift of myself may remind you
Of the friend who was with you that evening in May.
* * * * *
[Illustration: BREAKING THE ICE.
SCENE--_Public Drawing-room of Hotel in the Engadine._
_The Hon. Mrs. Snebbington_ (_to Fair Stranger_), "ENGLISH PEOPLE ARE
SO UNSOCIABLE, AND NEVER SPEAK TO EACH OTHER WITHOUT AN INTRODUCTION.
I ALWAYS MAKE A POINT OF BEING FRIENDLY WITH PEOPLE STAYING AT THE
SAME HOTEL. ONE NEED NEVER KNOW THEM AFTERWARDS!"]
* * * * *
ADVANCING YEARS.
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