The Fortunes of the Farrells

The Fortunes of the Farrells
By Mrs George de Horne Vaizey
CHAPTER ONE.
FROM PRETENCE TO REALITY.
"Berengaria, what do you generally do with your old court trains? How
do you use them up?"
The fire had died down to a dull red glow; only one tiny flame
remained, which, flickering to and fro, showed a wide expanse of floor,
and two easy-chairs drawn up before the fender, on which reclined
vague, feminine figures. The voice which had asked the question was
slow and languid, and breathed a wearied indifference to the world in
general, which was more than equalled in the tone of the reply--
"Really, don't you know, I can't say! I put them away, meaning to use
them for cloaks or evening-dresses; but I forget, or they get mislaid, or
the maid confiscates them for her own purposes. I expect, as a matter of
fact, she makes them up into Sunday blouses."
"You spoil that woman, dear! You are so absurdly easy-going that she
robs you right and left. Do take my advice, and give her notice at
once!"
"I couldn't, darling, even to please you! It bores me so to deal with
strangers, and no one else could do my hair like Elsie. If it pleases her
to use up a few of my garments, why shouldn't the poor soul have her
pleasure like the rest? That reminds me, Lucille--are you going to the
duchess's ball to-night? I suppose it is superfluous to ask, since no
entertainment is complete without you nowadays."

"Oh, I suppose so! If I am not too fagged, that is to say. But I have a
dinner first, and two At-homes, and people make such a fuss if you
don't put in an appearance. One hardly feels up to dancing after
struggling through two of the asphyxiating mobs dignified by the name
of entertainments; still, I promised Arthur the cotillion, and he will be
desolated if I play him false; and I have a new frock for the occasion
which is really rather a dream. Silver tissue over satin, and shoulder-
straps of diamonds. I had them reset on purpose. I spend quite a fortune
on resetting jewels nowadays; but one must be original, or die!"
"My dear, you will be too bewitching! Lord Arthur will be more
desperate than ever. My poor little self will be nowhere beside you! I'm
going to be sweet and simple in chiffon and pearls. Paquin made the
gown. Don't ask what it cost! I tore up the bill and threw it in the fire.
Really, don't you know, it made me quite depressed! So perishable, too!
I expect I shall be in rags before the evening is over. But it's quite sweet
at present--all frilly-willys from top to toe. I do love to be fluffy and
feminine, and my pearls really are unique! The princess examined them
quite carefully when I met her last winter, and said she had rarely seen
finer specimens. I wouldn't wear them at all unless they were good. I
cannot endure inferior jewels!"
The speaker lolled still more luxuriously in her chair, then started
forward, as the door opened with a bang, and a harsh voice accosted her
by name--
"Miss Mollie, your mother wants to know if you have finished darning
the socks? She is putting away the clean clothes, and wants to sort them
with the rest."
The Lady Lucille--otherwise Mollie Farrell, the penniless daughter of
an impoverished house--jumped up from her chair, and clasped her
hands in dismay. In blissful contemplation of imagining chiffons and
cotillions, the prosaic duties of reality had slipped from her mind, and
recollection brought with it a pang of remorse.
"Misery me! I forgot the very existence of the wretched things! Never
mind. Tell mother, Annie, that I'll set to work this minute, and put them

away myself as soon as they are done. Tell her I'm sorry; tell her I'll be
as quick as I possibly can!"
Annie stood for a moment in eloquent silence then shut the door and
descended the stairs; while Mollie groped her way across the room, and
Berengaria lifted herself from her chair with a sigh, and slipped her
hand along the mantelpiece.
"I'll light the gas. How horrid it is, being dragged back to earth by these
sordid interruptions! It's always the way--as soon as I begin to forget
myself, and enjoy a taste of luxury, back I'm dragged to the same dull
old life. I really saw that silver tissue, and felt the coldness of the
diamonds against my shoulder; and then--socks! Those wretched, thick,
ugly socks, with the heels all out, and the toes in rags! I think
schoolboys ought to be obliged to darn their own clothes, just to teach
them a little care!"