A Bit of Nature, Chapters XIV-XXIII [pp. 253-272]

A BIT OF NVATURE.
"So I hear."
"You know Mrs. Eliott is the niece of the Earl
of Noah, and that Sir Thomas is the grandson of
Lord Bombeck, whose ancestor came over with Wil liam the Conqueror, and who was the original Bon bee of Normandy?"
"I was not aware of it," observed Mrs. Barker,
with all the interest she could assume.
"I assure you it is so. I have all the English
nobility on my tongue's end. By-the-way," continued Mrs. Brown, "I have an informal reception
at my house day after to-morrow, and I should be
glad if you would come."
Mrs. Barker was afraid a pressure of other engagements would prevent her from availing herself
of the privilege, but Mrs. Brown insisted so heartily
that she accepted.
"If you can induce Miss Potter to come with
you I shall feel doubly obliged. Please tell her I
shall be most happy to make her acquaintance."
"I shall give her your message," said Mrs. Barker.
Having thus accomplished her mission, Mrs.
Brown retired. Soon after, Mrs. Smith and Mrs.
Jones naturally made their appearance with like motive, and no one would have supposed from their
cordiality toward Mrs. Barker that there ever had
been a cool interregnum in their social relations. On
learning that Miss Potter would likely be at the reception of Mrs. Brown, they determined also to be
there in order to make her acquaintance. Mrs. Smith
and Mrs. Jones, preparatory to flight, yielded to the
enjoyment of a little cackle. They hoped Mrs. Barker would not be such a stranger as she had been for
some time past. She must really come and see
them-the oftener the better.
On the day of the reception Mrs. Brown and her
daughter, Miss Arabella, stood on guard near the
main drawing-room door, in the conventional way
that society has ordained, to receive guests. The
rooms were filled with what Miss Arabella would
have called the fine fleur du pois. Mrs. Barker came
in rather late, and, after the usual compliments, the
hostess asked her why she did not bring Miss Potter.
"She asks you to excuse her," answered Mrs.
Barker; "she has returned home so recently that
she cannot yet find the time to go anywhere."
These were pretty nearly the words which Daisy
had used.
"Another time I hope she will allow herself to
be persuaded," returned Mrs. Brown, with her reception smile.
Mrs. Brown was surprised, and, when Mrs. Barker moved away, she said to her daughter:
"We have thrown open the door of society to
this young person, and she declines to enter. There
are people who have some connections who have
been knocking at that door all their lives, and it remained shut. And this person from the lower walks
of life is indifferent about it. It's affectation."
"Perhaps she doesn't appreciate the privilege,"
observed Arabella.
"It may be that. Then we have been casting
pearls-ahem! I suppose it must be the result of
ignorance."
Mrs. Smith, aware of the futile effort of Mrs.
Brown, approached Mrs. Barker to invite her to a
musical soiree that she was going to give. She, of
course, hoped that Mrs. Barker would bring her
charming young friend, Miss Potter, with her. Mrs.
Barker promised to do what she could.
"If it would not be presuming too much on her
kindness, I should be glad to send invitations to her
for her friends Mrs. Eliott and Sir Thomas Rogers,"
said Mrs. Smith.
"Do so," said Mrs. Barker;" I know she will
consider it an act of kindness. Indeed, I am persuaded if she goes out now it will rather be for the
amusement of her two English friends than for her
own."
The musical evening came, and the English man
and woman entered metropolitan society through the
portals of Mrs. Smith's house, and the hostess and
Miss Belinda, her daughter, were happy.
The change in Daisy to which Walters had referred was further apparent in evening-costume. Her
attire resembled that of others, except that it was
more simple. Her ears and fingers were still free
from rings, and her hair was her own. She was natural in speech and movement. She did not smile
when she was not pleased. She did not laugh when
she was sad. She did not look interested in what
was indifferent to her. In a word, her expression,
her actions, and her words, were the interpreters of
her heart. She was the embodiment of truth, hence
her self-reliance, her self-respect, and her composure.
From a modest background of black coats Walters contemplated her as she sat in a chair over which
the English baronet was leaning. As the eyes of
Walters dwelt upon her, his memory probably went
back to that other night when she appeared in Mrs.
Barker's ball. She glanced at the group of which
he formed a part, and saw him, when her face lighted up, and she beckoned to him with her fan. When
he approached she said:
"I wish to make you acquainted with each other.
-Sir Thomas, this is my oldest and best friend, Mr.
John Walters.-Mr. Walters, this is Sir Thomas
Rogers, who was kind to me in England."
"Oldest and best friend," repeated Sir Thomas.
"Mr. Walters is a man with great privileges. Miss
Potter has often spoken of you, Mr. Walters. As
you know, she is not talkative, yet when she spoke
of you she never tired of the subject."
"It is pleasant to know that our friends do not
forget us," said Walters, in the gentle tone habitual
with him.
"Mr. Walters," continued Sir Thomas, "I shall
surprise you some day with my knowledge of your
history-your shooting-excursions with Miss Potter,
your joint efforts in the culinary department, and
the rest of it, out in the Hollow."
"You see," said Daisy, brightly, " I have told
him everything."
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