The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story — page 45: what you’re looking at

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84 | THE EVIL GENIUS. Mrs. Presty disposed of this weak defense of her daughter's conduct by waving her hand. ‘‘ Read your telegram,” she re- peated, with dignity, ‘“‘ and judge for yourself.” Mrs! Linley read: ‘‘T have engaged a governess. She will travel in the same train with me. I think I ought to prepare you to receive a per- son whom you may be surprised to see. She is very young and very inexperienced; quite unlike the ordinary run of govern- esses. When you hear how cruelly the poor girl has been used, Iam sure you will sympathize with her as I do,” Mrs. Linley laid down the message, with a smile. ‘¢Poor dear Herbert,” she said, tenderly. ‘‘ After we have been eight years married, is he really afraid that I shall be jeal- ous? Mamma, why are you looking so serious ?” Mrs. Presty took the telegram from her daughter, and read extracts from it with indignant emphasis of voice and manner. ‘‘Travels in the same train with him. Very young and very inexperienced. And he sympathizes with her. Ha! 1 know the men, Catherine—I know the men!” CHAPTER II. THE GOVERNESS ENTERS. Mr. HERBERT LINLEY arrived at his own house in the fore- noon of the next day. Mrs. Linley, running out to the head of the stairs to meet her husband, saw him approaching her with- out a traveling companion. ‘‘ Where is the governess?’ she asked, when the first salutes allowed her an opportunity of speaking. ‘‘On the way to bed, poor soul, under the care of the house- keeper,” Linley answered. ‘Anything infectious. my dear Herbert?’ Mrs. Presty in- quired, appearing at the breakfast-room door. Linley addressed his reply to his wife: ‘‘Nothing more serious, Catherine, than want of strength. She was in such a state of fatigue after our long night-journey, that I had to lift her out of the carriage.” Mrs. Presty listened with an appearance of the deepest inter- est. ‘‘ Quite a novelty in the way of a governess,” she said. ‘¢ May I ask what her name is?’ ‘“Sydney Westerfield.” Mrs. Presty looked at her daughter and smiled satirically. Mrs. Linley remonstrated. ‘‘ Surely,” she said, ‘‘ you don’t object to the young lady’s name ?”’ ‘‘T have no opinion to offer, Catherine. I don’t believe in the name.” ‘‘Oh, mamma, do you suspect that it’s an assumed name ?” ‘‘My dear, I haven’t a doubt that it is. May I ask another question ?’ the old lady continued, turning to Linley. ‘‘ What references did Miss Westerfield give you?” ‘No references at all,” CORNICLOOOKS.e© m