The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story — page 147: what you’re looking at

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

7136 THE EVIL GENIUS. The time was evening; the scene was one of the private sit- ting-rooms in the hotel; and the purpose in view was a little tea- arty. F Rich Mrs. Romsey, connected with commerce as wife of the chief partner in the firm of Romsey & Renshaw, was staying at the hotel in the interests of her three children. They were of delicate constitution; their complete recovery, after severe ill- ness which had passed from one to the other, was less speedy than had been anticipated; and the doctor had declared that the nervous system was, in each case, more or Jess in need of repair To arrive at this conclusion, and to recommend a visit to Sandy Real, were events which followed each other (medically speak- ing) as a matter of course. The health of the children had greatly improved; the famous air had agreed with them, and the discovery of new playfellows had agreed with them. They had made acquaintance with Lady Myrie’s well-bred boys, and with Mrs. Ormond’s charming little Kitty. The most cordial good feeling had established itself among the mothers. Owing a return for hospitalities re- ceived from Lady Myrie and Mrs. Ormond, Mrs. Romsey had in- vited the two Jadies to drink tea with her in honor of an inter- esting domestic event. Her husband, absent on the Continent for some time past on business connected with his firm, had re- turned to England, and had that evening joined his wife and children at Sandyseal. Lady Myrie had arrived, and Mr. Romsey had been presented to her. Mrs. Ormond, expected to follow, was represented by a courteous note of apology. She was not well that evening, and she begged to be excused. ‘‘ This is a great disappointment,” Mrs. Romsey said to her husband. ‘* You would have been charmed with Mrs. Ormond— highly-bred, accomplished, a perfect lady. And she leaves us to-morrow, The departure will not be an early one, and I shall find an opportunity, my dear, of introducing you to my friend and her sweet little Kitty.” Mr. Romsey looked interested for a moment, when he first heard Mrs. Ormond’s name. After that he slowly stirred his tea, and seemed to be thinking instead of listening to his wife. ‘‘ Have you made the lady’s acquaintance here?” he inquired. ‘¢ Yes—and I hope I have made a friend for life,” Mrs. Romsey said, with enthusiasm, ‘* And so do I,” Lady Myrie added. Mr. Romsey went on with his inquiries. ‘* Is she a handsome woman ?” Both the ladies answered the question together. Lady Myrie described Mrs. Ormond in one dreadful word as ‘* Classical.” By comparison with this, Mrs. Romsey’s reply was intelligible. ‘* Not even illness can spoil her beauty!” ‘“The sort of headache she has got to-night?’ Mr. Romsey satirically sugvested. ‘* Don’t be ill-natured, dear! irs. Ormond is here bythe ad- vice of one of the first physicians in London; she has suffered under serious troubles, poor thing.” CONMIELOOOKS (6) m