Aunt Janes Nieces in Society

Aunt Jane's Nieces in Society

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Title: Aunt Jane's Nieces in Society
Author: Edith Van Dyne
Release Date: December 15, 2003 [eBook #10468]
Language: English
Character set encoding: iso-8859-1
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JANE'S NIECES IN SOCIETY***
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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 DEEPENS XVIII A RIFT IN THE CLOUDS XIX
POLITIC REPENTANCE XX A TELEPHONE CALL XXI THE
UNEXPECTED HAPPENS XXII GONE XXIII 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 tone
did not answer his sister-in-law. He sat gazing reflectively at the pattern
in the rug and seemed neither startled nor annoyed. Mrs. Merrick, a
pink-cheeked middle-aged lady attired in an elaborate morning gown,
knitted her brows severely as she regarded the chubby little man
opposite; then, suddenly remembering that the wrinkles might leave
their dreadful mark on her carefully rolled and massaged features, she
banished them with a pass of her ringed hand and sighed dismally.

"It would not have mattered especially had the poor children been left
in their original condition of friendless poverty," she said. "They were
then like a million other girls, content to struggle for a respectable
livelihood and a doubtful position in the lower stratas of social
communion. But you interfered. You came into their lives abruptly,
appearing from those horrid Western wilds with an amazing
accumulation of money and a demand that your three nieces become
your special _protégées_. 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 he rubbed 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
they reign as queens, the envy of all who know them. You've lavished
your millions upon them unsparingly; they are not only presumptive
heiresses but already possessed of independent fortunes. Ah, you think
you've been generous to these girls; don't you, John Merrick?" "Go on,
Martha; go on."
"You've taken them abroad--you took my own daughter, John Merrick,
and left me at home!--you've lugged your three nieces to the mountains
and carried them to the seashore. You even encouraged them to enlist
in an unseemly 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
advantage in your power save one, and the neglect of that one thing
renders futile all else you have accomplished."
Now, indeed, her listener seemed perplexed. He passed a hand over his
shiny 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're
as good girls as ever lived! They're highly respected, and--" "Sir, I refer
to Fashionable Society." The capitals indicate the impressive manner in
which Mrs. Merrick pronounced those words.
"I guess money makes folks fashionable; don't it, Martha?"
"No, indeed. How ignorant you are, John. Can you not understand that
there is a cultured, aristocratic and exclusive Society in New York that
millions will not enable one to gain _entrée_ to?"
"Oh, is there? Then I'm helpless."
"You are not, sir."
"Eh? I thought you said--"
"Listen, John; and for heaven's sake try for once to be receptive. I am
speaking not only for the welfare of my daughter Louise but for Beth
and Patricia. Your nieces are charming girls, all three. With the
advantages you have given them they may well become social
celebrities."
"H-m-m. Would