Page:A hairdresser's experience in high life.djvu/131

Rh follow her. She, being young and foolish, consented to the plan, but would not go without her hair-dresser. When I heard it, I in a quiet way put a stop to all, without exposing the matter, as I did not wish either his wife or Noble to have any more uneasiness. We then left for the watering-place.

Minnie was well received there, and was at the head of everything—she was fairly worshiped—when again this cousin came along. He tried to get her to write to her mother that she was sick, and bring her on there to find her in perfect health, as she had done once before at his instigation; but I found it out, and put the mother of Noble in pursuit of him.

Minnie again became dissatisfied. Noble now grew ugly; it was not his natural disposition, but grief drove him to stimulants, and many other things to drown his trouble. Now, for the first time, Minnie found out she had lost her influence over her husband, and made bitter complaints to his mother, for the latter always took Minnie's part to Noble, although knowing she was wrong. She would say to Minnie, "Take a decided stand, Minnie, and begin anew, and try to be steady." Minnie's reply was always, laughing, "I can not be steady—I never was taught to be steady. My ma never made me mind in her life. Had I been raised as you raised your daughters, it would have been different. I will just give you one little instance of how I was raised. One night, on coining down dressed for a ball, the carriage was out of order, and the coachman had neglected to tell mamma; so, not to disappoint me, mamma offered to send out for a hack, which made me so mad I walked out in blue silk boots and silk stockings. The snow was