ABriefHistoryofNewZealandLiteratureChapterINewZealandLiteratureinRomanticAge(1840-1907)GeneralIntroductionNewZealandisamulticulturalsocietyNewZealandisamulticulturalsocietywithadiversepopulationthatincludesMāori,EuropeanandAsiancultures.In1840,theTreatyofWaitangiwassigned,establishingNewZealandasaBritishcolony.Thecountrytransitionedfromacolonytoaself-governingmemberoftheBritishCommonwealthin1907,gainedfulllegislativeindependencefromBritainin1947,andformallybecamethe"RealmofNewZealand"in1983.BothEnglishandMāoriweredeclaredofficiallanguagesthroughthe1987MāoriLanguageAct.ThesecomplexhistoricalshiftshaveindirectlyinfluencedthedevelopmentofNewZealandliterature.EarlyliteratureoftenimitatedBritishRomanticpoetrywhilefulfillinga"documentingthenewland"role,reflectingcoloniallifeandMāoriasthepoetsCharlesBowen(1830-1917)andThomasBracken(1843-1898).Theseworksoftenblendedcuriositywithcolonialpropaganda.Longbeforewrittenliteratureemerged,MāorimaintainedanoraltraditiondatingbacktotheirPolynesianoriginsinHawaiki.WrittenMāoriliteraturedevelopedmuchlater,reflectingtheculturalimpactsofEuropeansettlementandtheintroductionofwritingtechnology.Thoughthetwotraditionshaveintertwined,oralstorytellingremainscentraltoMāoriculture.Duringthe19thcentury,EuropeansdocumentedMāorioralpoetryandstoriesintheiroriginallanguage.ThemostvividmythsandlegendswerelatertranslatedintoEnglishandpublishedincollectionssuchasMaoriFairyTales(JohannesAndersen,1908).MostearlyMāori-languageprintedworksappearedbefore1900.ChapterIINewZealandLiteratureinRealisticAge(1907-1945)GeneralIntroductionDuringthisperiod,themainfeaturesofNewZealandliteratureweretheawakeningoflocalconsciousnessandsocialcriticism.WritersbegantobreakfreefromBritishliteraryinfluences,focusinginsteadonlocalthemesthatreflectedsocialrealitiesandnationalidentity.Thelanguagealsobecamemorelocalized.AfterWorldWarI,asthenationalmovementgrewandtheGreatDepressionincreasedsocialtensions,literaturebecameanimportanttoolforcriticism.NewZealandliteraturewasslowlydeveloping,butitsentirehistorywastransformedbyKatherineMansfield(1888-1923).Thoughhercareerwascutshort,shelaidthefoundationforNewZealand'sliteraryreputationandcontinuestoinfluenceitsdevelopmenttoday.Fourotherimportantnovelistsofthistimeinclude:-EdithSearleGrossmann(1863-1931)-Published4novels-WilliamSatchell(1860-1942)-Publishedfournovels-JeanDevanny(1894-1962)-WrotesevennovelsaboutNewZealand-JaneMander(1877-1949)-KnownforherrealisticnovelsaboutNewZealandKatherineMansfield(1888-1923)—————————————— INTRODUCTION KatherineMansfieldwasaNewZealand-bornmasteroftheshortstory.Herdelicatestoriesfocusedonpsychologicalconflicts,andshesignificantlyinfluencedthedevelopmentoftheshortstoryasaliteraryform.MansfieldcouldpaintvividmentalimagesofNewZealand'snaturalbeautywhilealsocapturingthetinydetailsofupper-classlifeandcolonialsociety.BorninWellingtontoasuccessfulbusinessman,shegrewupinawealthyfamilythatsenthertoQueen'sCollegeinLondonforeducation.AfterashortreturntoNewZealand,shemovedbacktoLondontopursuealiterarycareer.In1911,Mansfieldpublishedherfirstshortstorycollection,InaGermanPension.Duringherlifetime,shereleasedtwomorecelebratedbooks:BlissandOtherStories(1920),andTheGardenPartyandOtherStories(1922).Additionalstories,poetrycollections,literarycriticism,letters,andjournalswerepublishedposthumously.Thoughfamousinhertime,herworklostpopularityforabout20yearsuntilthe1970s,whenfeministscholarsandresearchersstudyingtheBloomsburyGrouprediscoveredher.Today,MansfieldisstillseenfirstasaNewZealandwriterwhosebeststoriesbringherhomelandandfamilyexperiencestolife.SELECTEDREADINGTheGardenPartyOverviewWhenrichLauraSheridan'sfamilygetsreadyforafancysummerparty,theshelteredteenagersuddenlyfeelsaconnectionwiththeworkerspreparingtheevent.Herunderstandingofthedifferencesbetweensocialclassesgrowsstrongerwhenshefindsoutaworking-classneighborhasdied—amomentthatalsoforceshertofaceherownmortality.Andafteralltheweatherwasideal.Theycouldnothavehadamoreperfectdayforagarden-partyiftheyhadorderedit.Windless,warm,theskywithoutacloud.Onlythebluewasveiledwithahazeoflightgold,asitissometimesinearlysummer.Thegardenerhadbeenupsincedawn,mowingthelawnsandsweepingthem,untilthegrassandthedarkflatrosetteswherethedaisyplantshadbeenseemedtoshine.Asfortheroses,youcouldnothelpfeelingtheyunderstoodthatrosesaretheonlyflowersthatimpresspeopleatgarden-parties;theonlyflowersthateverybodyiscertainofknowing.Hundreds,yes,literallyhundreds,hadcomeoutinasinglenight;thegreenbushesboweddownasthoughtheyhadbeenvisitedbyarchangels.Breakfastwasnotyetoverbeforethemencametoputupthemarquee."Wheredoyouwantthemarqueeput,mother?""Mydearchild,it'snouseaskingme.I'mdeterminedtoleaveeverythingtoyouchildrenthisyear.ForgetIamyourmother.Treatmeasanhonoredguest."ButMegcouldnotpossiblygoandsupervisethemen.Shehadwashedherhairbeforebreakfast,andshesatdrinkinghercoffeeinagreenturban,withadarkwetcurlstampedoneachcheek.Jose,thebutterfly,alwayscamedowninasilkpetticoatandakimonojacket."You'llhavetogo,Laura;you'retheartisticone."AwayLauraflew,stillholdingherpieceofbread-and-butter.It'ssodelicioustohaveanexcuseforeatingoutofdoors,andbesides,shelovedhavingtoarrangethings;shealwaysfeltshecoulddoitsomuchbetterthananybodyelse.Fourmenintheirshirt-sleevesstoodgroupedtogetheronthegardenpath.Theycarriedstavescoveredwithrollsofcanvas,andtheyhadbigtool-bagsslungontheirbacks.Theylookedimpressive.Laurawishednowthatshehadnotgotthebread-and-butter,buttherewasnowheretoputit,andshecouldn'tpossiblythrowitaway.Sheblushedandtriedtolooksevereandevenalittlebitshort-sightedasshecameuptothem."Goodmorning,"shesaid,copyinghermother'svoice.Butthatsoundedsofearfullyaffectedthatshewasashamed,andstammeredlikealittlegirl,"Oh--er--haveyoucome--isitaboutthemarquee?""That'sright,miss,"saidthetallestofthemen,alanky,freckledfellow,andheshiftedhistool-bag,knockedbackhisstrawhatandsmileddownather."That'saboutit."Hissmilewassoeasy,sofriendlythatLaurarecovered.Whatniceeyeshehad,small,butsuchadarkblue!Andnowshelookedattheothers,theyweresmilingtoo."Cheerup,wewon'tbite,"theirsmileseemedtosay.Howveryniceworkmenwere!Andwhatabeautifulmorning!Shemustn'tmentionthemorning;shemustbebusiness-like.Themarquee."Well,whataboutthelily-lawn?Wouldthatdo?"Andshepointedtothelily-lawnwiththehandthatdidn'tholdthebread-and-butter.Theyturned,theystaredinthedirection.Alittlefatchapthrustouthisunder-lip,andthetallfellowfrowned."Idon'tfancyit,"saidhe."Notconspicuousenough.Yousee,withathinglikeamarquee,"andheturnedtoLaurainhiseasyway,"youwanttoputitsomewherewhereit'llgiveyouabangslapintheeye,ifyoufollowme."Laura'supbringingmadeherwonderforamomentwhetheritwasquiterespectfulofaworkmantotalktoherofbangsslapintheeye.Butshedidquitefollowhim."Acornerofthetennis-court,"shesuggested."Buttheband'sgoingtobeinonecorner.""H'm,goingtohaveaband,areyou?"saidanotheroftheworkmen.Hewaspale.Hehadahaggardlookashisdarkeyesscannedthetennis-court.Whatwashethinking?"Onlyaverysmallband,"saidLauragently.Perhapshewouldn'tmindsomuchifthebandwasquitesmall.Butthetallfellowinterrupted."Lookhere,miss,that'stheplace.Againstthosetrees.Overthere.That'lldofine."Againstthekarakas.Thenthekaraka-treeswouldbehidden.Andtheyweresolovely,withtheirbroad,gleamingleaves,andtheirclustersofyellowfruit.Theywereliketreesyouimaginedgrowingonadesertisland,proud,solitary,liftingtheirleavesandfruitstothesuninakindofsilentsplendour.Musttheybehiddenbyamarquee?Theymust.Alreadythemenhadshoulderedtheirstavesandweremakingfortheplace.Onlythetallfellowwasleft.Hebentdown,pinchedasprigoflavender,puthisthumbandforefingertohisnoseandsnuffedupthesmell.WhenLaurasawthatgesturesheforgotallaboutthekarakasinherwonderathimcaringforthingslikethat--caringforthesmelloflavender.Howmanymenthatsheknewwouldhavedonesuchathing?Oh,howextraordinarilyniceworkmenwere,shethought.Whycouldn'tshehaveworkmenforherfriendsratherthanthesillyboysshedancedwithandwhocametoSundaynightsupper?Shewouldgetonmuchbetterwithmenlikethese.It'sallthefault,shedecided,asthetallfellowdrewsomethingonthebackofanenvelope,somethingthatwastobeloopeduporlefttohang,oftheseabsurdclassdistinctions.Well,forherpart,shedidn'tfeelthem.Notabit,notanatom...Andnowtherecamethechock-chockofwoodenhammers.Someonewhistled,someonesangout,"Areyourightthere,matey?""Matey!"Thefriendlinessofit,the--the--Justtoprovehowhappyshewas,justtoshowthetallfellowhowathomeshefelt,andhowshedespisedstupidconventions,Lauratookabigbiteofherbread-and-butterasshestaredatthelittledrawing.Shefeltjustlikeawork-girl."Laura,Laura,whereareyou?Telephone,Laura!"avoicecriedfromthehouse."Coming!"Awaysheskimmed,overthelawn,upthepath,upthesteps,acrosstheveranda,andintotheporch.InthehallherfatherandLauriewerebrushingtheirhatsreadytogototheoffice."Isay,Laura,"saidLaurieveryfast,"youmightjustgiveasquizatmycoatbeforethisafternoon.Seeifitwantspressing.""Iwill,"saidshe.Suddenlyshecouldn'tstopherself.SheranatLaurieandgavehimasmall,quicksqueeze."Oh,Idoloveparties,don'tyou?"gaspedLaura."Ra-ther,"saidLaurie'swarm,boyishvoice,andhesqueezedhissistertoo,andgaveheragentlepush."Dashofftothetelephone,oldgirl."Thetelephone."Yes,yes;ohyes.Kitty?Goodmorning,dear.Cometolunch?Do,dear.Delightedofcourse.Itwillonlybeaveryscratchmeal--justthesandwichcrustsandbrokenmeringue-shellsandwhat'sleftover.Yes,isn'titaperfectmorning?Yourwhite?Oh,Icertainlyshould.Onemoment--holdtheline.Mother'scalling."AndLaurasatback."What,mother?Can'thear."Mrs.Sheridan'svoicefloateddownthestairs."TellhertowearthatsweethatshehadonlastSunday.""Mothersaysyou'retowearthatsweethatyouhadonlastSunday.Good.Oneo'clock.Bye-bye."Lauraputbackthereceiver,flungherarmsoverherhead,tookadeepbreath,stretchedandletthemfall."Huh,"shesighed,andthemomentafterthesighshesatupquickly.Shewasstill,listening.Allthedoorsinthehouseseemedtobeopen.Thehousewasalivewithsoft,quickstepsandrunningvoices.Thegreenbaizedoorthatledtothekitchenregionsswungopenandshutwithamuffledthud.Andnowtherecamealong,chucklingabsurdsound.Itwastheheavypianobeingmovedonitsstiffcastors.Buttheair!Ifyoustoppedtonotice,wastheairalwayslikethis?Littlefaintwindswereplayingchase,inatthetopsofthewindows,outatthedoors.Andthereweretwotinyspotsofsun,oneontheinkpot,oneonasilverphotographframe,playingtoo.Darlinglittlespots.Especiallytheoneontheinkpotlid.Itwasquitewarm.Awarmlittlesilverstar.Shecouldhavekissedit.Thefrontdoorbellpealed,andtheresoundedtherustleofSadie'sprintskirtonthestairs.Aman'svoicemurmured;Sadieanswered,careless,"I'msureIdon'tknow.Wait.I'llaskMrsSheridan.""Whatisit,Sadie?"Lauracameintothehall."It'stheflorist,MissLaura."Itwas,indeed.There,justinsidethedoor,stoodawide,shallowtrayfullofpotsofpinklilies.Nootherkind.Nothingbutlilies--cannalilies,bigpinkflowers,wideopen,radiant,almostfrighteninglyaliveonbrightcrimsonstems."O-oh,Sadie!"saidLaura,andthesoundwaslikealittlemoan.Shecroucheddownasiftowarmherselfatthatblazeoflilies;shefelttheywereinherfingers,onherlips,growinginherbreast."It'ssomemistake,"shesaidfaintly."Nobodyeverorderedsomany.Sadie,goandfindmother."ButatthatmomentMrs.Sheridanjoinedthem."It'squiteright,"shesaidcalmly.Iorderedthem.Aren'ttheylovely?"ShepressedLaura'sarm."Iwaspassingtheshopyesterday,andIsawtheminthewindow.AndIsuddenlythoughtforonceinmylifeIshallhaveenoughcannalilies.Thegarden-partywillbeagoodexcuse.""ButIthoughtyousaidyoudidn'tmeantointerfere,"saidLaura.Sadiehadgone.Theflorist'smanwasstilloutsideathisvan.Sheputherarmroundhermother'sneckandgently,verygently,shebithermother'sear."Mydarlingchild,youwouldn'tlikealogicalmother,wouldyou?Don'tdothat.Here'stheman."Hecarriedmoreliliesstill,anotherwholetray."Bankthemup,justinsidethedoor,onbothsidesoftheporch,please,"saidMrs.Sheridan."Don'tyouagree,Laura?""Oh,Ido,mother."Inthedrawing-roomMeg,JoseandgoodlittleHanshadatlastsucceededinmovingthepiano."Now,ifweputthischesterfieldagainstthewallandmoveeverythingoutoftheroomexceptthechairs,don'tyouthink?""Quite.""Hans,movethesetablesintothesmoking-room,andbringasweepertotakethesemarksoffthecarpetand--onemoment,Hans--"Joselovedgivingorderstotheservants,andtheylovedobeyingShealwaysmadethemfeeltheyweretakingpartinsomedrama.motherandMissLauratocomehereatonce."“Verygood,MissJose."SheturnedtoMeg."Iwanttohearwhatthepianosoundslike,justincaseI'maskedtosingthisafternoon.Let'stryover'ThislifeisWeary.'"Pom!Ta-ta-taTee-ta!ThepianoburstoutsopassionatelythatJose'sfacechanged.Sheclaspedherhands.ShelookedmournfullyandenigmaticallyathermotherandLauraastheycamein."ThisLifeisWee-ary,ATear--aSigh.ALovethatChan-ges,ThisLifeisWee-ary,ATear--aSigh.ALovethatChan-ges,Andthen...Good-bye!"Butattheword"Good-bye,"andalthoughthepianosoundedmoredesperatethanever,herfacebrokeintoabrilliant,dreadfullyunsympatheticsmile."Aren'tIingoodvoice,mummy?"shebeamed."ThisLifeisWee-ary,HopecomestoDie.ADream--aWa-kening."ButnowSadieinterruptedthem."Whatisit,Sadie?"youplease,m'm,cooksayshaveyougottheflagsforthesandwiches?""Theflagsforthesandwiches,Sadie?"echoedMrs.Sheridandreamily.Andthechildrenknewbyherfacethatshehadn'tgotthem."Letmesee."AndshesaidtoSadiefirmly,"TellcookI'llletherhavethemintenminutes.Sadiewent.Laura,"saidhermotherquickly,"comewithmeintothesmoking-room.I'vegotthenamessomewhereonthebackofanenvelope.havetowritethemoutforme.Meg,goupstairsthisminuteandtakethatwetthingoffyourhead.Jose,runandfinishdressingthisinstant.Doyouhearme,children,orshallIhavetotellyourfatherwhenhecomeshometo-night?And--and,Jose,pacifycookifyoudogointothekitchen,willyou?I'mterrifiedofherthismorning."Theenvelopewasfoundatlastbehindthedining-roomclock,thoughhowithadgotthereMrs.Sheridancouldnotimagine."Oneofyouchildrenmusthavestolenitoutofmybag,becauseIremembervividly--creamcheeseandlemon-curd.Haveyoudonethat?""Yes.""Eggand--"Mrs.Sheridanheldtheenvelopeawayfromher."Itlookslikemice.Itcan'tbemice,canit?""Olive,pet,"saidLaura,lookingoverhershoulder."Yes,ofcourse,olive.Whatahorriblecombinationitsounds.Eggandolive."Theywerefinishedatlast,andLauratookthemofftothekitchen.ShefoundJosetherepacifyingthecook,whodidnotlookatallterrifying."Ihaveneverseensuchexquisitesandwiches,"saidJose'srapturousvoice."Howmanykindsdidyousaytherewere,cook?Fifteen?""Fifteen,MissJose.""Well,cook,Icongratulateyou."Cooksweptupcrustswiththelongsandwichknife,andsmiledbroadly."Godber'shascome,"announcedSadie,issuingoutofthepantry.Shehadseenthemanpassthewindow.Thatmeantthecreampuffshadcome.Godber'swerefamousfortheircreampuffs.Nobodyeverthoughtofmakingthemathome."Bringtheminandputthemonthetable,mygirl,"orderedcook.Sadiebroughttheminandwentbacktothedoor.OfcourseLauraandJosewerefartoogrown-uptoreallycareaboutsuchthings.Allthesame,theycouldn'thelpagreeingthatthepuffslookedveryattractive.Very.Cookbeganarrangingthem,shakingofftheextraicingsugar."Don'ttheycarryonebacktoallone'sparties?"saidLaura."Isupposetheydo,"saidpracticalJose,whoneverlikedtobecarriedback."Theylookbeautifullylightandfeathery,Imustsay.""Haveoneeach,mydears,"saidcookinhercomfortablevoice."Yermawon'tknow."Oh,impossible.Fancycreampuffssosoonafterbreakfast.Theveryideamadeoneshudder.Allthesame,twominuteslaterJoseandLaurawerelickingtheirfingerswiththatabsorbedinwardlookthatonlycomesfromwhippedcream."Let'sgointothegarden,outbythebackway,"suggestedLaura."Iwanttoseehowthemenaregettingonwiththemarquee.They'resuchawfullynicemen."Butthebackdoorwasblockedbycook,Sadie,Godber'smanandHans.Somethinghadhappened."Tuk-tuk-tuk,"cluckedcooklikeanagitatedhen.Sadiehadherhandclappedtohercheekasthoughshehadtoothache.Hans'sfacewasscrewedupintheefforttounderstand.OnlyGodber'smanseemedtobeenjoyinghimself;itwashis"What'sthematter?What'shappened?""There'sbeenahorribleaccident,"saidCook."Amankilled.""Amankilled!Where?How?When?"ButGodber'smanwasn'tgoingtohavehisstorysnatchedfromunderhisverynose."Knowthoselittlecottagesjustbelowhere,miss?"Knowthem?Ofcourse,sheknewthem.there'sayoungchaplivingthere,nameofScott,acarter.Hishorseshiedatatraction-engine,cornerofHawkeStreetthismorning,andhewasthrownoutonthebackofhishead.Killed.""Dead!"LaurastaredatGodber'sman."Deadwhentheypickedhimup,"saidGodber'smanwithrelish."TheyweretakingthebodyhomeasIcomeuphere."Andhesaidtothecook,"He'sleftawifeandfivelittleones.""Jose,comehere."Lauracaughtholdofhersister'ssleeveanddraggedherthroughthekitchentotheothersideofthegreenbaizedoor.Thereshepausedandleanedagainstit."Jose!"shesaid,horrified,"howeverarewegoingtostopeverything?""Stopeverything,Laura!"criedJoseinastonishment."Whatdoyoumean?""Stopthegarden-party,ofcourse."WhydidJosepretend?ButJosewasstillmoreamazed."Stopthegarden-party?MydearLaura,don'tbesoabsurd.Ofcoursewecan'tdoanythingofthekind.Nobodyexpectsusto.Don'tbesoextravagant.""Butwecan'tpossiblyhaveagarden-partywithamandeadjustoutsidethefrontgate."Thatreallywasextravagant,forthelittlecottageswereinalanetothemselvesattheverybottomofasteeprisethatleduptothehouse.Abroadroadranbetween.True,theywerefartoonear.Theywerethegreatestpossibleeyesore,andtheyhadnorighttobeinthatneighbourhoodatall.Theywerelittlemeandwellingspaintedachocolatebrown.Inthegardenpatchestherewasnothingbutcabbagestalks,sickhensandtomatocans.Theverysmokecomingoutoftheirchimneyswaspoverty-stricken.Littleragsandshredsofsmoke,sounlikethegreatsilveryplumesthatuncurledfromtheSheridans'chimneys.livedinthelaneandsweepsandacobbler,andamanwhosehouse-frontwasstuddedalloverwithminutebird-cages.Childrenswarmed.WhentheSheridanswerelittletheywereforbiddentosetfoottherebecauseoftherevoltinglanguageandofwhattheymightcatch.Butsincetheyweregrownup,LauraandLaurieontheirprowlssometimeswalkedthrough.Itwasdisgustingandsordid.Theycameoutwithashudder.Butstillonemustgoeverywhere;onemustseeeverything.Sothroughtheywent."Andjustthinkofwhatthebandwouldsoundliketothatpoorwoman,"saidLaura."Oh,Laura!"Josebegantobeseriouslyannoyed."Ifyou'regoingtostopabandplayingeverytimesomeonehasanaccident,you'llleadaverystrenuouslife.I'meverybitassorryaboutitasyou.Ifeeljustassympathetic."Hereyeshardened.Shelookedathersisterjustassheusedtowhentheywerelittleandfightingtogether.won'tbringadrunkenworkmanbacktolifebybeingsentimental,"shesaidsoftly."Drunk!Whosaidhewasdrunk?"LauraturnedfuriouslyonJose.Shesaid,justastheyhadusedtosayonthoseoccasions,"I'mgoingstraightuptotellmother.""Do,dear,"cooedJose."Mother,canIcomeintoyourroom?"Lauraturnedthebigglassdoor-knob."Ofcourse,child.Why,what'sthematter?What'sgivenyousuchacolour?"AndMrs.Sheridanturnedroundfromherdressing-table.Shewastryingonanewhat."Mother,aman'sbeenkilled,"beganLaura."Notinthegarden?"interruptedhermother."No,no!""Oh,whatafrightyougaveme!"Mrs.Sheridansighedwithrelief,andtookoffthebighatandhelditonherknees."Butlisten,mother,"saidLaura.Breathless,half-choking,shetoldthedreadfulstory."Ofcourse,wecan'thaveourparty,canwe?"shepleaded."Thebandandeverybodyarriving.They'dhearus,mother;they'renearlyneighbors!"ToLaura'sastonishmenthermotherbehavedjustlikeJose;itwashardertobearbecausesheseemedamused.SherefusedtotakeLauraseriously."But,mydearchild,useyourcommonsense.It'sonlybyaccidentwe'veheardofit.Ifsomeonehaddiedtherenormally--andIcan'tunderstandhowtheykeepaliveinthosepokylittleholes--weshouldstillbehavingourparty,shouldn'twe?"Laurahadtosay"yes"tothat,butshefeltitwasallwrong.Shesatdownonhermother'ssofaandpinchedthecushionfrill."Mother,isn'titterriblyheartlessofus?"sheasked."Darling!"Mrs.Sheridangotupandcameovertoher,carryingthehat.BeforeLauracouldstophershehadpoppediton."Mychild!"saidhermother,"thehatisyours.It'smadeforyou.It'smuchtooyoungforme.Ihaveneverseenyoulooksuchapicture.Lookatyourself!"Andsheheldupherhand-mirror."But,mother,"Laurabeganagain.Shecouldn'tlookatherself;sheturnedaside.ThistimeMrs.SheridanlostpatiencejustasJosehaddone."Youarebeingveryabsurd,Laura,"shesaidcoldly."Peoplelikethatdon'texpectsacrificesfromus.Andit'snotverysympathetictospoileverybody'senjoymentasyou'redoingnow.""Idon'tunderstand,"saidLaura,andshewalkedquicklyoutoftheroomintoherownbedroom.There,quitebychance,thefirstthingshesawwasthischarminggirlinthemirror,inherblackhattrimmedwithgolddaisies,andalongblackvelvetribbon.Neverhadsheimaginedshecouldlooklikethat.Ismotherright?shethought.Andnowshehopedhermotherwasright.AmIbeingextravagant?Perhapsitwasextravagant.Justforamomentshehadanotherglimpseofthatpoorwomanandthoselittlechildren,andthebodybeingcarriedintothehouse.Butitallseemedblurred,unreal,likeapictureinthenewspaper.I'llrememberitagainaftertheparty'sover,shedecided.Andsomehowthatseemedquitethebestplan...Lunchwasoverbyhalf-pastone.Byhalf-pasttwotheywereallreadyforthefray.Thegreen-coatedbandhadarrivedandwasestablishedinacornerofthetennis-court."Mydear!"trilledKittyMaitland,"aren'ttheytoolikefrogsforwords?Yououghttohavearrangedthemroundthepondwiththeconductorinthemiddleonaleaf."Lauriearrivedandhailedthemonhiswaytodress.AtthesightofhimLaurarememberedtheaccidentagain.Shewantedtotellhim.IfLaurieagreedwiththeothers,thenitwasboundtobeallright.Andshefollowedhimintothehall."Laurie!""Hallo!"Hewashalf-wayupstairs,butwhenheturnedroundandsawLaurahesuddenlypuffedouthischeeksandgoggledhiseyesat"Myword,Laura!dolookstunning,"saidLaurie."Whatanabsolutelytoppinghat!"Laurasaidfaintly"Isit?"andsmiledupatLaurie,anddidn'ttellhimafterall.Soonafterthatpeoplebegancominginstreams.Thebandstruckup;thehiredwaitersranfromthehousetothemarquee.Whereveryoulookedtherewerecouplesstrolling,bendingtotheflowers,greeting,movingonoverthelawn.TheywerelikebrightbirdsthathadalightedintheSheridans'gardenforthisoneafternoon,ontheirwayto--where?Ah,whathappinessitistobewithpeoplewhoallarehappy,topresshands,presscheeks,smileintoeyes."DarlingLaura,howwellyoulook!""Whatabecominghat,child!""Laura,youlookquiteSpanish.I'veneverseenyoulooksostriking."AndLaura,glowing,answeredsoftly,"Haveyouhadtea?Won'tyouhaveanice?Thepassion-fruiticesreallyareratherspecial."Sherantoherfatherandbeggedhim."Daddydarling,can'tthebandhavesomethingtodrink?"Andtheperfectafternoonslowlyripened,slowlyfaded,slowlyitspetalsclosed."Neveramoredelightfulgarden-party...""Thegreatestsuccess...""Quitethemost..."Laurahelpedhermotherwiththegood-byes.Theystoodsidebysideintheporchtillitwasallover."Allover,allover,thankheaven,"saidMrs.Sheridan."Rounduptheothers,Laura.Let'sgoandhavesomefreshcoffee.I'mexhausted.it'sbeenverysuccessful.Butoh,theseparties,theseparties!Whywillyouchildreninsistongivingparties!"Andtheyallofthemsatdowninthedesertedmarquee."Haveasandwich,daddydear.Iwrotetheflag.""Thanks."Mr.Sheridantookabiteandthesandwichwasgone.Hetookanother."Isupposeyoudidn'thearofabeastlyaccidentthathappenedto-day?"hesaid."Mydear,"saidMrs.Sheridan,holdingupherhand,"wedid.Itnearlyruinedtheparty.Laurainsistedweshouldputitoff.""Oh,mother!"Lauradidn'twanttobeteasedaboutit."Itwasahorribleaffairallthesame,"saidMr.Sheridan."Thechapwasmarriedtoo.Livedjustbelowinthelane,andleavesawifeandhalfadozenk