320 The Discomfiture of Mrs. Trimmings 



' I am sure I apologise if I am intruding,' the 3^oung 

 mother said, while the child looked with w^ondering and 

 rather frightened eyes at the person who spoke so rudely 

 and roughly ; ' I was informed at the hotel that this was 

 a public green, or I should certainly not have come 

 here.' 



' I don't like people on the hill so near my house,' 

 Mrs. Trimmings continued. 



' But, surely, madam, that is unreasonable "? ' the 

 younger lady gently replied. ' My little child is delicate, 

 just recovering from a long and severe illness, and this 

 is the only sheltered spot out of the east wind. I am 

 sorry to be beholden to you for even the protection of 

 your wall,' she continued, with just a shade of indignation 

 in her voice, ' but I cannot expose my child to danger to 

 gratify a request which you must excuse me for saying 

 you have no right to make if this is not your private 

 property.' 



Tears had come into the little child's eyes — she was 

 unaccustomed to other than gentle words, and this angry 

 woman with the red face frightened her ; but Mrs. 

 Trimmings had no sympathy with childhood or suffering ; 

 that the bitter wind blew keenly over the hill was nothing 

 to her, and she snorted indignantly as she looked from 

 the child to its mother. 



' I have expressed my wishes, and I think it very bad 

 taste for people to intrude,' she said, and wdth another 

 snort and a comprehensive glare, she passed through her 

 gate and vanished. 



She was not home too soon, either, for the Covertside 

 carriage had just turned the corner, and was coming up 

 the hill. 



' Must we ask her to dinner, mother ? Is it really 



