The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

THE EVIL GENIUS. 39 pienty of love in it. My next attempt to get away from the school ended in another disappointment. <A poor old man, who had once been an actor, used to come to us twice a week, and get a few shillings by teaching the girls to read aloud. ‘‘ He was called ‘ Professor of English Literature,’ and he taught out of a ragged book of verses which smelt of his pipe. I learned one of the pieces and repeated it to him, and asked if there was any hope of my being able to go on the stage. He was very kind; he told me the truth. ‘ My dear, you have no dramatic ability; God forbid you should go on the stage.’ I went back again to the penny journals, and tried a new editor. He seemed to have more money than the other one; or perhaps he was kinder. I got ten shillings from him for my story. With that money I made my last attempt—I advertised for a situation as governess. If Mr. Linley had not seen my adver- tisement I might have starved in the streets. When my aunt heard of it, she insisted on my begging her pardon before the whole school. Do girls get half maddened by persecution? If they do, I think I must have been one of those girls. I refused to beg pardon; and I was dismissed from my situation without a character. Will you think me very foolish? I shut my eyes again, when I woke in my delicious bed to-day. I was afraid that the room and everything in it wasadream.” She looked round, and started to her feet. ‘*‘ Oh, here’salady! Shall I go away ?” The curtains hanging over the entrance to the library were opened for the second time. With composure and dignity, the lady who had startled Sydney entered the room. ‘*‘ Have you been reading in the library?” Mrs. Linley asked. And Mrs. Presty answered: ‘‘ No, Catherine, I have been listen- Mrs. Linley looked at her mother, her lovely complexion red- dened with a deep blush. ‘‘ Introduce me to Miss Westerfield,” Mrs. Presty proceeded, as coolly as ever. Mrs. Linley showed some hesitation. What would the gov- erness think of her mother? Perfectly careless of what the governess might think, Mrs. Presty crossed the room and intro- duced herself. ‘‘ Miss Westerfield. Iam Mrs. Linley’s mother. And Iam, in one respect, a remarkable person. When I form an opinion, and find it’s the opinion of a fool, I am not in the least ashamed to change my mind. [ have changed my mind about you. Shake hands.” Sydney respectfully obeyed. “Sit down again.” Sydney returned to her chair. ‘*T had the worst possible opinion of you,” Mrs. Presty resumed, ‘‘ before I had the pleasure of listening on the other side of the curtain. It has been my good fortune—what’s your Christian name? Did I hear it? or have I forgotten it? ‘Sydney, eh? Very well. Iwas about to say, Sydney, that it has been my good fortune to be intimately associated in early life with twe COMIC OO® Ss (E() im