The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story — page 153: what you’re looking at

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143 THE EVIL GENIOS. mamma.” And child as she was, she was as good as her word. Her mother looked at her, and burst into tears. Perversely reluctant, the better nature that was in Mrs. Presty rose to the surface, forced to show itself. ‘‘ Cry, Catherine,” she said, kindly; ‘*it will do you good. Leave the child to me.” With a gentleness that astonished Kitty, she led her little eranddaughter to the window, and pointed to the public walk in front of the house. ‘**I know what will comfort you,” the wise old woman began; ‘look out of the window.” Kitty obeyed. ‘‘I don’t see my little friends coming,” she said. Mrs. Presty still pointed to some object on the public walk. ‘‘ That’s better than nothing, isn’t it,” she persisted. ‘‘ Come with me te the maid; she shall go with you and take care of you.” Kitty whispered, ‘May I give mamma a kiss first?” Sensible Mrs. Presty delayed the kiss for a while. ‘‘ Wait till you come back, and then you can tell your mamma what a treat you have had.” Arrived at the door on the way out, Kitty whispered again: ‘Tl want to say something.” ‘Well, what is it ?” ‘* Will you tell the donkey-boy to make him gallop ?” ‘¢T’ll tell the boy he shall have sixpence if you are satisfied; and you will see what he does then.” Kitty looked up earnestly in her grandmother’s face. ‘‘ What a pity it is you are not always like what you are now!” she said. Mrs. Presty actually blushed. CHAPTER XXXV. CAPTAIN BENNYDECK. For some time Catherine and her mother had been left te- gether undisturbed. Mrs. Presty had read the letters of Lady Myrie and Mrs. Rom- sey, with the most unfeigned contempt for the writers—had repeated what the judge had really said, as distinguished from Lady Myrie’s malicious version of it—and had expressed her intention of giving Catherine a word of advice, when she was sufficiently composed to profit by it. ‘‘ You have recovered your good looks, after that fit of crying,” Mrs. Presty ad- mitted, ‘‘but not your good spirits. What is worrying you now ?” ‘‘T can’t help thinking of poor Kitty.” ‘“My dear, the child wants nobody’s pity. She’s blowing away all her troubles by a ride in the fresh air, on the favorite donkey that she feeds every morning. Yes, yes, you needn't tell me you are in a false position; and nobody can deny that | it’s shameful to make the child feel it. Now listen to me. Properly understood, those two spiteful women have done you a kindness. They have as goodas told you how to protect your- self in the time to come. Deceive the vile world, Catherine, as it deserves to be deceived. Shelter yourself behind a respect- able character that will spare you these insults in the future.” In the energy of her conviction, Mrs. Presty struck her fist . = ECOMMICOOOKS (c©@)