The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

THE EVIL GENIUS. 85 Mrs. Presty rose with the alacrity of a young woman and hurried to the door. ‘‘ Follow my example,” she said to her daughter, on her way out. ‘‘ Lock up your jewel-box.” Linley drew a deep breath of relief when he was left alone with his wife. ‘‘ What makes your mother so particularly dis- agreeable this morning ?” he inquired. ‘‘She doesn’t approve, dear, of my leavmg it to you to choose a governess for Kitty.” ‘‘ Where is Kitty ?” ‘Out on her pony for a ride over the hills. Why did you send a telegram, Herbert, to prepare me for the governess? Did you really think I might be jealous of Miss Westerfield ?” Linley burst out laughing. ‘‘ Nosuch idea entered my head,” he answered. ‘‘ It isn’t 72 you, my dear, to be jealous.” Mrs. Linley was not quite satisfied with this view of her char- acter. Her husband’s well-intended compliment reminded her that there are occasions when any woman may be jealous, no matter how generous and how gentle she may be. ‘* We won’t go quite so far as that,” she said to him, ‘‘ because——” She stopped, unwilling to dwell too long on a delicate subject. He jocosely finished the sentence for her. ‘‘ Because we don’t know wha. may happen in the future ?”’ he suggested; making another mistake by making a joke. Mrs. Linley returned to the subject of the governess. “*T don’t at all say what my mother says,” she resumed; ‘* but was it not just a little indiscreet to engage Miss Westerfield without any references ?” ‘Unless Iam utterly mistaken,” Linley replied, ‘‘ you would nave been quite as indiscreet in my place. If you had seen the horrible woman who persecuted and insulted her Z His wife interrupted him. ‘‘ How did all this happen, Her- bert? Who first introduced you to Miss Westerfield ?” Linley mentioned the advertisement, and described his inter- view with the schoolmistress. Having next acknowleged that he had received w visit from Miss Westerfield herself, he re- peated all that she had been able to tell him of her father’s wasted life and melancholy end. Really interested by this time, Mrs. Linley was eager for more information. Her husband hesi- tated. ‘*I would rather you heard the rest of it from Miss Wes- terfield,” he said, ‘‘in my absence.” ‘¢Why your absence ?” ‘‘ Recause she can speak to you more freely when Iam not present. Hear her tell her own story, and then let me know whether you think I have made a mistake. I submit to your de- cision beforehand, whichever way it may incline.” Mrs. Linley rewarded him witha kiss. Ifa married stranger had seen them at that moment, he would have been reminded of forgotten days—the days of his honeymoon. ‘“* And now,” Linley resumed, ‘‘ suppose we talk a little about ourselves. I haven’t seen my brother yet. Where is Randal?” ‘‘ Staying at the farm to look after your interests. We expect him to come back to-day. Ah, Herbert, what do we not all owe to that dear, good brother of yours? There is really no end to EOMMICLOOOkKsS (E() im