The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story — page 195: what you’re looking at

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

184 THE EVIL GENIUS. who the captain was. Kitty started as if the question shocked her. ‘‘Oh, dear, dear, this is what comes of your going away and leaving us! You don’t know Captain Bennydeck.” The name of her father’s correspondent! The name which she vaguely remembered to have heard in her childhood. ‘*‘ Where did you first meet with him?” she inquired. ‘* At the seaside, dear!” ‘¢ Do you mean at Sandyseal?” “Yes. Mamma liked him—and grandmamma liked him (which is wonderful)—and I gave hima kiss. Promise me not to tell! My nice captain is going to be my new papa.” Was there any possible connection between what Kitty had just said and what the poor child had been deluded into believ- ing when she spoke of her father? Even Susan seemed to be in the secret of this strange second marriage! She interfered with a sharp reproof. ‘‘ You mustn’t talk in that way, Miss Kitty. Please put her off yourlap, Miss Westerfield; we have been here too long already.” Kitty proposed a compromise; ‘‘ [ll go,” she said, ‘‘if Syd will come with me.” ‘‘T’m sorry, my darling, to disappoint you.” Kitty refused to believe it. ‘‘ You couldn’t disappoint me if you tried,” she said, boldly. ; ‘‘ Indeed, indeed, I must goaway. Oh, Kitty, try to bear it as do!” Entreaties were useless; the child refused to hear of another arting. ‘‘I want to make you and mamma friends again. on’t break my heart, Sydney! Comehome with me, and teach me, and play with me, and love me!” She pulled desperately at Sydney’s dress; she called to Susan to help her. With tearsin her eyes, the girl did her best to help them both. ‘* Miss Westerfield will wait here,” she said to Kitty, ‘‘while you speak to your mamma. Say yes!” she whispered to Sydney; ‘‘ it’s our only chance.” The child instantly exacted a promise. In the earnestness of her love she even dictated the words. ‘‘ Say it after me, as I used to say my lessons,” she insisted. ‘‘Say, ‘ Kitty, I promise to wait for you.’” Who that loved her could have refused to sayit! Inone form or another, the horrid necessity for deceit had followed, and was still following, that first, worst act of falsehood—the elopement from Mount Morven. Kitty was now as eager to go as she had been hitherto reso- lute to remain. She called for Susan to follow her, and ran to the hotel. ‘‘My mistress won’t let her come back—you can leave the garden that way.” The maid pointed along the path to the left, and hurried after the child. They were gone—-and Sydney was alone again. At the parting with Kitty, the measure of her endurance was full. Not even the farewell at Mount Morven had tried her by an ordeal so cruel as this. No kind woman was willing to re- ceive her and employ her now. Theone creature left who loved ECOMMICEOOOKS (C©)