Guy Earlscourt's Wife — page 216: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

204 ‘‘Camilla’s Husband.” “iter devilish determination I never saw ecualed in old or young!” Sir Vane said to the last day of his life. And indeed there was truth in the forcible remark. She had kept her rooms, to the surprise of everybody for a fort- night at Brighton—aaving her meals sent up to her, not seeing a soul but her maid Jane. The weather had been dismal throughout, and with plenty of new books and iew music, Paulina could not feel very lonely. The Brighton world began at last to ask so many questions about its bright favorite that at length Sir Vane sent up his own man, with a polite reques: that Miss Lisle would join them that day at dinner. Miss Lisle’s prompt answer was char- acteristic: “Tell Sir Vane Charteris, Brownson, with my compli- ments, that I have stayed a prisoner here for two weeks to please him—I shall now stay two more to please myself!” With which the door closed emphatically in Brownson’s bewildered face. And Miss Lisle would have been as good as her word had not the baronet whisked his whole family back to town. | London was deserted now by their world, but Mrs. Atch- erly, Paulina’s friend, had a country seat at Twickenham ; and on the twenty-second of December was to give a grand ball, to be preceded by private theatricals; and to these theat- ricals and to this ball Paulina had promised faithfully to go. But Sir Vane ruled it otherwise. “Tf Mrs. Atcherly should happen: to eall,” he said to his sister, “tell her Paulina is indisposed, and unable to attend. If she thought’ she was to be taken to ‘The Firs,’ she would throw heyself upon the Atcherlys protection, as soon as not, and the old colonel is a veritable Don Quixote about women.” Mrs. Atcherly did call on the twenty-first, and was told, in Mrs. Galbraith’s smoothest way, poor Paulina would not be able to attend—the child had been indisposed since a fort- night before they left Brighton. Was the list of Miss Lisle’s enormities never to be filled ? The drawing-room door,opened as Mrs. Galbraith spoke, and the young lady herself walked in, her cheeks glowing, her eyes sparkling, the very impersonation of excellént health and spirits. “Not so Indisposed, Mrs. Galbr aith, that she cannot grect an old friend. And, Jear Mrs. Atcherly, I will go to Twick- enham to-morrow night if I have to walk there!” “Tam so glad. Remember, Mrs. Galbraith,” rising to 2, “we shall assuredly expect you and Miss Lisle.” Mrs. Galbraith turned passionately to Miss Lisle the in- stant ber visitor had quitted the house. M still 66) of ti see | over Wor) Sh libra her ( 6é lirs’ oN that shall Elear ‘The the h take day ¢ you b 66Q leave He In ] horrib They and m with a compa it hig» might Impris them ¢ “Sor dressec least ic Never, She it as t thinkin filled y dress ¢ rold he niavtble told of Sir \ comicbooks.com