A Condensed Novel

Rose - Ethel, what made you behave so oddly lust íiight? I tbought you were raud! Poor Mr. Amesbury looked so miserable when he put us into tbe carriuge that 1 felt sure you had quarreled. ! Ethel (iudifferently) - We had. I gave him bis' conge, that's all. He was cross and rude because - well, becauseof various things- and I said I despised narrow mlnded men and didn't want to see bim again, and thatour engagement bad better be broken off, as it was evident we should not suit each other. ; Rose - And what did he say? Ethel- Jim? Oh, I didn't wait to bear what he said. I had had rny say, and that was sufficient. Rose- I really wonder that he didn't dismiss you first, you richly deserve it, for you have really behaved disgracefully. ! Ethel - What nonsense! Idon'tseewhy a girl should not amuse herself because she happens to be engaged, and for ïny part I should not care if Jim were to flirt with all the women in the country! Rose - Perhaps not if he flirted with them all, hut what would you have said if he liad devoted himself to onc for the whole evening and sat out with her as you did with that Mr. Douglas? It was too bad of you, because you know how ïiuich Jim dislikesthe man. "Ethel - Pure prejudice, my dear, and I hate prejudice; it's so commonplace! I like men (o be broad in their views, and able to see the good points in other men. Rose - If they possess them. Well, I think Mr. Amesbury was right to be angry. I would not care one little bit for a man who did not assert himself - I couldn't respect him! Ethel - My dear, you are certainly the kindest girl in the world, and the very cleverest. You are always trying to do your friends good turns, but you won't do any good here. I have quite made up my inind - Mr. Amesbury and I are apart ; forever, and not even you are clever enough to bring xis together. i Rose (aside) - I am not so sure of that. Ethel - What are you saying, my dear? Rose - I isas saying nothing - but I was thinking. Ethel - And what were you thinking? Rose - Nothing. Oh, nothing - you love Mr. Amesbury still, Ethel, don't you? Ethel - Certainly not. A man who can ' be rude, cross, nnjust, overbearing and who dares to lecture me! ! Rose- Had he time to be all that? How clever of himl Ethel - You little know men! Rose - Perhaps uot, but I think I know , women. Ethel - You little know me, if you think ! I am going to miike it up. Rose - What, uever at all? You are qnite, quite sure? Ethel - Never! Rose - Oh, Etbel! (taking her hands) I am so giad, so very glad ! Ethel - You are glad now. You odd girl! Rose - Don't laugh; it so serious to me. Oh, if I could only have known a long time ago - how lightly your love lay on you - I shonld have - well, I should have been so different in some things - in one thing. Ethel (puzzled) - I don't a bit know what you mean. Rose - No, how should you? And you ! mustn't ever try to guess. But - do you think any woman is justifled in sacriiicing her own happiness - perhaps only the dream of her own happiness - for the sake j of another person? Ethel - No, I den't, and that is why I'ra j so determined uot to sacriflee mine to Mr. Amesbury. . Rose - Oh, Ethel, dearest, kiss me and i forgive me. You have made me so happy. I' Ethel - Have I? I don't see how, but i I'm very glad, all the same. Rose - Listen. You are quite sure you j don't love Mr. Amesbury one little bit? Ethel - Not one fraction of a little bit. Rose - How fliiïerently you used to talk once! Ethel - Yes, indeed, once - 1 had not found him out then! Rose - And really he is very nice - so I good looking, so delightful in every way, j so clever - such very good form Ethel - And such a temper? Rose - Nonsense! I won't have hiiu abused. No really nice man ever had a good temper! You shan't abuse my friend! Ethel - Your friend! Rose - Yes. Did you not know we were ever so long in the country together last August? (Excitedly). He is not your friend now ! He is nothing to you ! He is my friend, and you shan't abuse him! Ethel (with calm deliberation) - Do you i mean to teil me, Rose, that you, my own friend, whom I trusted, have - have played me false? You dare to teil me to my face you are glad he and I are parted, and that you - whom I once thought so loyal - that you love Mr. Amesbury? You flirt with him habitnally, no doubt, when my j back is turned! Rose (half sobbing) - I confess nothing, Ethel. Ethel (bitterly)- Ah ! I see it all now- yes, you danced twice with him yesterday! Rose - I did - while you danced four tim9s with Mr. Douglas. Ethel - It is no excuse! Rose - ï'ortunately, you don't care for Jim. Ethel (stamping her foot) - You shan't cali him Jim, and I do are for him - you know I do. I can't bear it - I - I - think j'our conduct - why, what are you laughing at? Rose - At you, I'm afraid. Ethel (after a pause) - Do you really mean - yes, I see. Well, you can act. Rose. But you were ever so long iu the country with him ! You said so. Rose - Only two days, but it seemed "ever so long," for he talked of nothing but you. Ethel (aftw a sudden pause, laughing suddenly) - Well, now, Rose, I dare say you think yourself very clever, but what would you say if I told that I had seen through you all the time? Rose - I should not believe you, dear I -