The Argosy — page 299: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

282 How Kenrick Married Fulict Eustis. vases up and down the table; what ordinary waiter would think of utilising such simple adornments ?” “The lady who superintends laying the table is a teacher of geometry, and I am told that her intimate acquaintance with curves and angles is the reason that she never has a table-cloth crooked ora row of knives and forks all points of the compass.” ‘‘ How do your guests treat them ?” ‘“According to their several dispositions. ‘Those who are really gentlefolk treat them as their equals—as many of them are; those who have more money than brains, or more fashion than pedigree, are elther amusingly condescending or almost rude. But the girls laugh in their sleeves at the latter, and keep out of their way as much as possible.” “Some of these young ladies are, I presume,’members of good amilies ?” ‘“Oh, yes! more than one. We have the daughter of a really famous botanist, two nieces of distinguished divines, who count back to the Alayflower, one whose father was a geologist and member of a dozen literary societies in Germany, and yet another whose history is peculiar—that one in the blue dress, who is filling Governor Catlin’s glass. She, Miss Thorndyke, 1s great-granddaughter of a Judge of the State Supreme Court, the granddaughter of a physician whose name is known all over our part of America, and the daughter of a clergyman. At her father’s death, she, the eldest of six girls, went out into the world as a governess, and she was one of the first to accept my offer. When she first came she was thin, pale, and fagged out; but look at her now!” ‘‘What a sensible thing these overworked teachers have done!” cried the Senator. ‘‘ Here they get mental rest, bracing air, and a little money, while their over-proud companions are either shut up in the city or spending their scant savings in boarding at a farmhouse. You must introduce me to some of these ladies, so that I may have a little conversation with them. I admire their genuine independence.” And, though it has no connection with my story, I will just mention that the Senator ultimately married one of these governesses, to the dismay of all the belles who had dressed, danced, sung, smiled, and chattered for his especial delectation. This had been Rhoda Crosby’s plan. At first Miriam Thorndyke had somewhat recoiled from it, but at last she thus reasoned: “I am tired and half ill; I absolutely need mountain or sea air; but at the end of this quarter, after paying my mother’s rent and one or two small bills of my own, I shall possess the enormous sum of twenty dollars, which must last until October. At this hotel I shall get the change I need, and the work will not be arduous. As for the position—well, I am a lady, and so long as I conduct myself as a lady, what need I care whether any scorn me? And as for”—here a mental pause—“ well, as for friends, EORNIE OOO KS (E(@)