Flaming June | Page 5

the
Atlantic!"
"They do, indeed. I have always understood that young people are
brought into quite undue prominence in American households. And
their manners, too! One sees in that postscript--you don't mind my
saying so, just between ourselves--a--a broadness--"
"Quite so! I feel it myself. I am most grieved, about it. Cornelia is my
niece, and Edward is the head of the family. Her position as his only
child is one of importance, and I feel distressed that she is so little
qualified to adorn it. She has been well educated, I believe; has
`graduated,' as they call it; but she has evidently none of our English
polish. Quite in confidence, Mrs Ramsden, I feel that she may be
somewhat of a shock to the neighbourhood!"
"You think of receiving her, then? Your brother leaves you the option
of refusing, and I should think things over very seriously before
incurring such a responsibility. A three-months' visit! I doubt you could
not stand the strain! If you excused yourself on the ground of health, no
offence could possibly be taken."
But at that Miss Briskett protested strongly.
"Oh, my dear, I could not refuse! Edward wishes to find a home for the
girl, and says he would be relieved to have her with me. I could not
possibly refuse! I think I may say that I have never yet shirked a duty,
distasteful though it might be, and I must not do so now. I shall cable to
say that I will be pleased to receive Cornelia, when it suits her to
arrive."
Mrs Ramsden crumbled her seed-cake and wondered why--that being

the case--she had been summoned to give advice, but being a
good-natured soul, smiled assent, and deftly shifted the conversation to
the consideration of details.
"Well, dear, I only trust you may be rewarded. Miss Cornelia is
fortunate to have such a home waiting to receive her. What room do
you propose to dedicate to her use?"
Miss Briskett's face clouded, and she drew a long, despairing sigh.
"That's another thing I am troubled about. I had the best spare room
done up only this spring. The carpet had faded, and when I was
renewing it I took the opportunity to have in the painters and
paperhangers. It is all fresh, even the curtains and bed-hangings. They
have not once been used."
Mrs Ramsden purred in sympathetic understanding.
"Poor dear! When one has just made a room all fresh and clean, it is
most trying to have it taken into use! But why give her that room at all,
dear? You have several others. A young, unmarried girl should be
satisfied with a room at the back, or even on the third storey. You have
a nice little guest room over your own bedroom, have you not?"
"No!" Miss Briskett again manifested a noble determination to do her
duty. "I should like Edward to feel, when he comes over, that I have
paid his daughter all due honour. She must have the spare room, and if
she spills things over the new carpet, I must pray for grace to bear it.
She has been accustomed to a very luxurious style of living for the last
few years, and I daresay even my best room will not be as handsome as
her own apartment. In the present state of Edward's finances, she is, I
suppose, a very great heiress."
Little Mrs Ramsden stared into her cup with a kindly thoughtfulness.
"I should keep that fact secret, if I were you," she said earnestly. "Poor
lassie! it's always a handicap to a girl to be received for what she has,
rather than what she is. And there are two or three idle, worthless

young men hanging about, who might be only too glad to pick up a rich
wife. I should simply announce that I was expecting a niece from the
United States of America, to pay me a visit of some months' duration,
and offer no enlightenment as to her circumstances. You will have
enough responsibility as it is, without embarrassing entanglements."
"Yes, indeed. Thank you so much. I feel sure that your advice is wise,
and I shall certainly follow it. There's that soldier nephew of Mrs Mott's,
who is constantly running down on short visits. I object intensely to
that dashing style! He is just the type of man to run after a girl for her
money. I shall take special care that they do not meet. One thing I am
determined upon," said Miss Briskett, sternly, "and that is that there
shall be no love-making, nor philandering of any kind under my roof. I
could not be troubled with such nonsense, nor with the responsibility of
it. I am accustomed to a quiet, regular life, and if Cornelia comes