Part 46 (2/2)

That, too, brought a cloud over their friends.h.i.+p. And the problem remained unsolved.

Mr. Haberton, immersed in affairs, had little time to consider his daughter's whims. Mrs. Haberton, long an invalid, was too much occupied in battling with her own ailments, and bearing the pain which was her daily lot, to feel acute sympathy with Claudia's woes.

”My dear,” she said one day, when her daughter had been more than commonly eloquent upon the want of purpose in her life, ”why don't you think of some occupation?”

”But what occupation?” said Claudia. ”Here I am at home, with everything around me, and no wants to supply----”

”That is something,” put in Mrs. Haberton.

”Oh, yes, people always tell you that; but after all, wouldn't it be better to have life to face, and to----”

”Poor dear!” said Mrs. Haberton, stroking her daughter's cheek with a thin hand.

”Please don't, mamma,” said Claudia; ”you know how I dislike being petted like a child.”

”My dear,” said Mrs. Haberton, ”I feel my pain again; do give me my medicine.”

She had asked for it a quarter of an hour before, but Claudia had forgotten so trivial a matter in the statement of her own woes. Now she looked keenly at her mother to see if this request was but an attempt to create a diversion. But the drawn look was sufficient. She hastily measured out the medicine, and as hastily left the room saying, ”I will send Pinsett to you at once.”

Pinsett was Mrs. Haberton's maid, who was speedily upon the spot to deal with the invalid.

But Claudia had withdrawn to her own room, where she was soon deep in a pamphlet upon the social position of Woman, her true Rights in the World, and the n.o.ble opportunities for Serving Mankind outside the home.

[Sidenote: Wanted--a Career]

”Ah,” said Claudia to herself, ”if I could only find some occupation which would give a purpose to existence--something which would make me really useful!”

After all, was there any reason why she should not? There was Eroica Baldwin, who had become a hospital nurse, and wore the neatest possible costume with quite inimitable grace. It might be worth while asking her a few questions. It was true she had never much cared for Eroica; she was so tall and strong, so absurdly healthy, and so intolerant of one's aspirations. Still, her experience might be of use.

There was Babette Irving--a foolish name, but it was her parents' fault; they had apparently thought she would always remain an infant in arms.

Her father had married again, and Babette was keeping house with another woman of talent.

[Ill.u.s.tration: HER VERY YOUTH PLEADED FOR HER.]

Babette had taken to the pen. Her very youth at first pleaded for her with editors, and she got some work. Then more came; but never quite enough. Now she wrote stories for children and for the ”young person,”

conducted a ”Children's Column” in a weekly paper, supplied ”Answers to Correspondents” upon a startling variety of absurd questions, and just contrived to live thereby.

Babette's friend had been reared in the lap of luxury until a woeful year in the City made her father a bankrupt, and sent her to earn her living as a teacher of singing. They ought to have some advice to give.

Then there was Sarah Griffin--”plain Sarah,” as some of the unkind had chosen to call her at school. She was one of nine girls, and when her father died suddenly, and was found to have made but poor provision for his family, she had been thankful to find a place in a shop where an a.s.sociation of ladies endeavoured to get a sale for the work of ”distressed gentlewomen.”

She also ought to know something of the world. Perhaps, she, too, could offer some suggestion as to how the life of a poor aimless thing like Claudia Haberton might be animated by a purpose.

But they all lived in London, the very place, as Claudia felt, where women of spirit and of ”views” should be. If she could but have a few hours of chat with each! And, after all, no doubt, this could be arranged. It was but a little time since Aunt Jane and Aunt Ruth had asked when she was going to cheer them with another visit. Might not their invitation give her just the opportunity she sought?

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