The Inner Sisterhood | Page 4

of detection.
He knows that he is never the topic of conversation among women.
They seldom, if ever, discuss their ideals, and all of them, myself
included, have a most evidently-conscious air whenever dear Robert's
name happens to be mentioned, no matter how trivial the mention. But
I am the least touched, and surely the more unresponsive of the entire
seven, consequently he is more devoted to me than to any of the others.
He was by my side the entire evening at Mrs. Babbington Brooks's
elegant and most fashionable ball the other night; he was my escort to
the musicale last Tuesday, and O, he did look so handsome! And he
never before said SO MANY positively tender things, and he said them
in such a tired, pathetic tone, that he almost won my heart; really, when
I'm with the man I am sure that I love him, and most devotedly. But I
have perfect control over myself and my limited supply of
feeling--Henry Seyhmoor says I am without a heart; so I only look at
him full in the face when he tells me all those tender little things, and
then turn away with a light laugh--assumed, of course--and gently but
firmly remind him that I am not Kate Meadows.
Ah, here is a note from him now! He always writes from the Club--the
Pelham, of course. I don't know the people who belong to any other
Club. What a nice thing it must be to go down to the Club at night, or
whenever you like--I wish I was a man. And this is his note:
"Your Platonic friend, Henry Seyhmoor, seems quite devoted here of
late, my dear Miss Mason. I saw you with him last evening at the
theater; your talk charmed him into unusual silence. How entertaining
you must have been!

"Won't you go with me to the opera Friday night; and won't you be as
nice to me then as you were at the musicale--no, not that nice only, but
even nicer still--as nice--as--well--as I should like you to be; won't
you?
"Robert Fairfield"
A note of mere nothings. My common sense tells me that much. Yet I
find myself forming words for myself between the written lines, and
twice read that dainty card, with the crest and motto of Pelham. Of
course I'll go with him; for to go with Robert Fairfield any where
means a delightful time to any girl so fortunate. It means a bunch of
roses almost heavenly in their sweet loveliness! It means the two best
seats in the theater! It means the turning of a hundred envious female
eyes from all parts of the crowded house; for our theater is always
crowded on Friday nights, no matter what the play or players may
chance to be. Because it is fashionable to go on Friday nights, and
theatergoers in this town are so fashionable.
I am glad, at least once a year, that I am a Methodist, because we don't
keep Lent. But Kate Meadows is very high-church, and, of course, she
ought to keep it! I wonder if she will? She was not out during the
Langtry engagement; but that was on account of lack of men, not on
account of Lent; because her little brother told my Cousin Mary's little
girl that nobody had asked his sister to go any where for days and days,
and that his papa had to take her whenever she went any where.
However, I suppose she'll go, if she goes at all, with her papa; he often
takes her out. I heard her say that she did just love to go out with her
dear papa, and that it pleased him so much. Poor old man! I saw him
nodding and napping, nearly dead for sleep, the last time he was out
with her. It's a shame to keep him up so! As for myself, I would never
go any where if I had to, for the lack of a man, always be dragging poor
papa out. It must be so very mortifying. But nothing could mortify that
girl; she is such an upstart. Her bonnets and her dresses are the talk of
the town, because they are so ugly and unbecoming. But she has a
gracious and pleasant manner, and sometimes has a good deal of
attention--whenever she once gets out. People frequently say nice

things about her; but I am sure it's their duty, because she entertains
charmingly and often. She never gives any thing like a regular party,
but quiet little affairs that are acknowledged to be very elegant by all
who are so fortunate as to be invited--because people never decline
invitations to her house. She is the only girl that I am afraid may finally
win Robert