Ladies-In-Waiting (Paperback)

LADIES-IN-WAITING - CONTENTS MISS THOMASINA TUCKER I THE TURNING-POINT 97 HULDAH THE PROPHETESS I49 Two ON A TOUR 189 PHILIPPAS NERVOUS PROSTRATION 275 -LADIES-IN-WAITING . . MISS THOMASINA TUCKER LADIES-IN-WAITING MISS THOMASINA TUCKER GOOD-BYE, Miss Tucker Good luck, Miss Tommy Bye, bye, Tomsie Dont stay away too long These sentiments were being called from the Hoboken dock to the deck of an ocean steamer, while a young lady, buried in bou- quets and bonbons, leaned over the rail, sparkling, inciting, compelling, responding. Take care of yourself, Tommy I dont see but that I must Nobody else to do it she responded saucily. You would nt let em if they tried This from a rosy-cheeked youngster who was as close to the waters edge as safety per- mitted. Say, did you guess what my floral LADIES-IN-WAITING offering was to be when you trimmed your hat I am flattered Sorry The hat was trimmed weeks ago, and Im wearing your bouquet because it matches. Thanks, awfully, replied the crestfallen youth. Plans for reduction of head-size constantly on file in Miss Tuckers office. Just Carls luck to hit on a match. Dont see any particular luck in being accessory to a hat trimming, grumbled Carl. Write now and then, Miss Tommy, wont you said a fellow with eyeglasses and an air of fashion. Wont promise Ill wait till Im rich enough to cable Shilling a words expensive, but you can send em to me collect. My word is Hope- ful, - at which the little party laughed. Register another, and make it Uncer- tain, called the girl roguishly, seeing that no one was paying any attention to her friends and their nonsense. MISS THOMASINA TUCKER London first, is it asked the rosy youth. Decided on your hotel Hotel Itsgoing to be my share of a modest Bloomsbury lodging, she answered. Got to sing my way from a third-floor-back in a side street to a gorgeous suite at the Ritz Well watch you cried three in chorus. But wed rather hear you, darling, said a nice, tailor-made girl, whose puffy eyelids looked as if she had been crying. Blessed lamb I hope Ill be better worth hearing Oh, do go home, all of you espe- cially you, Jessie My courage is oozing out at the heels of my shoes. Disappear Ive been farewelling actively for an hour and casually for a week. If they dont take off the gangplank in a minute or two I shant have pluck enough to stick to the ship. You cant expect us to brace you up, Tommy, said the rosy youth. Were los- ing too much by it. Come along back What S the matter with America Dont talk to her that way, Carl, - 5 LADIES-IN-WAITING and the tailor-made girl looked at him re- proachfully. You know shes got nobody and nothing to come back to. Shes given up her room. Shes quarreled with her beastly uncle at last all her belongings are in the hold of the steamer, and shes made up her mind. All ashore thats going ashore The clarion tones of the steward rang through the air for the third time, and the loud beating of the ships gong showed that the last mo- ment had come. The gangplank was removed and the great liner pushed off and slowly wended her way down-river, some of the more faithful ones in the crowd waving hand- kerchiefs until she was a blur in the distance. Well, theres no truer way of showing loyalty than by going to Hoboken to see a friend off, said the eyeglassed chap as he walked beside Jessie Macleod to the ferry. I would nt do it for anybody but Tommy. Nor I exclaimed the rosyyouth. Good old Tommy I wonder whether shell sing and have a career, or fall in love over there 6