Aunt Jane's Nieces in Society

  AUNT JANE'S NIECES IN SOCIETY

  BY

  EDITH VAN DYNE

  1910

  LIST OF CHAPTERS

  CHAPTER

  I UNCLE JOHN'S DUTY II A QUESTION OF "PULL" III DIANA IV THE THREE NIECES V PREPARING FOR THE PLUNGE VI THE FLY IN THE BROTH VII THE HERO ENTERS AND TROUBLE BEGINS VIII OPENING THE CAMPAIGN IX THE VON TAER PEARLS X MISLED XI LIMOUSINE XII FOGERTY XIII DIANA REVOLTS XIV A COOL ENCOUNTER XV A BEWILDERING EXPERIENCE XVI MADAME CERISE, CUSTODIAN XVII THE MYSTERY DEEPENSXVIII A RIFT IN THE CLOUDS XIX POLITIC REPENTANCE XX A TELEPHONE CALL XXI THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS XXII GONEXXIII THE CRISIS XXIV A MATTER OF COURSE

  CHAPTER I

  UNCLE JOHN'S DUTY

  "You're not doing your duty by those girls, John Merrick!"

  The gentleman at whom this assertion was flung in a rather angry tonedid not answer his sister-in-law. He sat gazing reflectively at thepattern in the rug and seemed neither startled nor annoyed. Mrs.Merrick, a pink-cheeked middle-aged lady attired in an elaborate morninggown, knitted her brows severely as she regarded the chubby little manopposite; then, suddenly remembering that the wrinkles might leave theirdreadful mark on her carefully rolled and massaged features, shebanished them with a pass of her ringed hand and sighed dismally.

  "It would not have mattered especially had the poor children been leftin their original condition of friendless poverty," she said. "They werethen like a million other girls, content to struggle for a respectablelivelihood and a doubtful position in the lower stratas of socialcommunion. But you interfered. You came into their lives abruptly,appearing from those horrid Western wilds with an amazing accumulationof money and a demand that your three nieces become your special_protegees_. And what is the result?"

  The little man looked up with a charming smile of good humored raillery.His keen gray eyes sparkled as mischievously as a schoolboy's. Softly herubbed the palms of his hands together, as if enjoying the situation.

  "What is it, Martha, my dear? What is the result?" he asked.

  "You've raised them from their lowly condition to a sphere in which theyreign as queens, the envy of all who know them. You've lavished yourmillions upon them unsparingly; they are not only presumptive heiressesbut already possessed of independent fortunes. Ah, you think you've beengenerous to these girls; don't you, John Merrick?" "Go on, Martha; goon."

  "You've taken them abroad--you took my own daughter, John Merrick, andleft _me_ at home!--you've lugged your three nieces to the mountains andcarried them to the seashore. You even encouraged them to enlist in anunseemly campaign to elect that young imbecile, Kenneth Forbes, and--"

  "Oh, Martha, Martha! Get to the point, if you can. I'm going,presently."

  "Not until you've heard me out. You've given your nieces every advantagein your power save one, and the neglect of that one thing renders futileall else you have accomplished."

  Now, indeed, her listener seemed perplexed. He passed a hand over hisshiny bald head as if to stimulate thought and exorcise bewilderment.

  "What is it, then? What have I neglected?" was his mild enquiry.

  "To give those girls their proper standing in society."

  He started; smiled; then looked grave.

  "You're talking foolishly," he said. "Why, confound it, Martha, they'reas good girls as ever lived! They're highly respected, and--" "Sir, Irefer to Fashionable Society." The capitals indicate the impressivemanner in which Mrs. Merrick pronounced those words.

  "I guess money makes folks fashionable; don't it, Martha?"