The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story — page 154: what you’re looking at

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

THE EVIL GENIUS. 148 on the table, and finished in three audacious words: ‘‘Be a widow!” It was plainly said—and yet Catherine seemed to be at a loss co understand what her mother meant. ‘¢ Don’t doubt about it,” Mrs. Presty went on; ‘‘doit. Think of Kitty if you won't think of yourself. Inafew years more ~-he will be a young lady. She may have an offer of marriage which may be everything we desire. Suppose her sweetheart’s family is a religious family; and suppose your divorce, and the judge’s remarks on it, are discovered. What will happen then ?” ‘Ts it possible that you are in earnest?’ Catherine asked. ‘* Have you seriously thought of the advice that you are giving me? Setting aside the deceit, you know as well as I do that Kitty would ask questions. Do you think 1 can tell my child that her father is dead? A lie—and such a dreadful lie as that ?” ‘* Nonsense!’ said Mrs. Presty. ‘* Nonsense ?”’ Catherine repeated, indignantly. ‘* Rank nonsense,” her mother persisted. ‘* Hasn’t your situ- ation forced you to lie already? When the child asks why her father and her governess have left us, haven’t you been obliged to invent excuses which are lies? If the man who was once your husband isn’t as good as dead to you. I should like to know what your divorce means! My poor child, do you think you can go on as you are going on now? How many thousands of people have read the newspaper account of the trial? How many hundreds of people—interested in a handsome woman like you—will wonder why they never see Mr. Ormond? What? You will go abroad again? Go where you may, you will attract attention; you will make an enemy of every ugly woman who looks at you. Strain at a gnat, my dear, and swal- low acamel. It’s only a question of time. Sooner or later you will find yourself driven to it; you will be a widow. JHere’s the waiter again. What does the man want now?” The waiter answered by announcing: ‘Captain Bennydeck.” Catherine’s mother was nearer to the door than Catherine; she attracted the captain’s attention first. He addressed his apol- ogies to her: ‘‘ Pray excuse me for disturbing you.” Mrs. Presty had an eye for a handsome man, irrespective of what his age might be. In the language of the conjurors, a “magic change” appeared in her; she became brightly agree- able in a moment. ‘*Oh, Captain Bennydeck, you mustn’t make excuses for com- ing into your own room!” Captain Bennydeck went on with his excuses nevertheless. ‘The landlady tells me that I have unluckily missed seeing Mr. Randal Linley, and that he has left a message for me. I shouldn’t otherwise have ventured——” Mrs. Presty stopped him once more. The captain’s claim to the captain’s rooms was the principle on which she took her stand. She revived the irresistible smiles which had conquered Mr. Ormond and Mr. Presty. ‘‘ No ceremony, I beg and pray! You are at home here—take the easy-chair!” CONNICLOO S (CO) im