The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

40 THE EVIL GENIUS. remarkable characters. Husbands of mine, in short, whose in- fluence over me has, I am proud to say, set death and burial at defiance. Between them they have made my mind the mind of aman. I judgefor myself. The opinions of others (when they don’t happen to agree with mine) | regard as chaif to be scat- tered to the winds. No, Catherine, Iam not wandering. JI am pointing out to a young person, who has her way to make in the world, the vast importance, on certain occasions, of possessing an independent mind. If I had been ashamed to listen behind those curtains, there is no injury that my stupid prejudices might not have inflicted on this unfortunate girl. As it is, I have heard her story, and I do her justice. Count on me, Syd- ney, as your friend—and now get up again. ‘¢My grandchild (never accustomed to wait for anything since the day when she was born) is waiting dinner for you. She is at this moment shouting for her governess, as King Richard (I ama great reader of Shakespeare) once shouted for his horse. The maid (you will recognize her as a stout person suffering under tight stays) is waiting outside to show you the way to the nursery. Au revoir! Stop! Ishould lke to judge of the purity of your French accent. Say ‘au revoir’ to me. Thank you. Weak in her French, Catherine,” Mrs. Presty pronounced, when the door had closed on the governess; ‘‘ but what can you expect, poor wretch, after such a life as she has led? Now we are alone, I have a word of advice for your private ear. We have much to anticipate from Miss Westerfield that is pleasant and encouraging. But I don’t conceal it from myself or from you, we have also something to fear!” ‘‘To fear?” Mrs. Linley repeated. ‘‘1 don’t understand you.” ‘Never mind, Catherine, whether you understand me or not. I want more information. Tell me what your husband said to you about this young lady.” Wondering at the demon of curiosity which appeared to pos- sess her mother, Mrs. Linley obeyed. Listening throughout with the closest attention, Mrs. Presty reckoned up the items of infor- mation, and pointed the moral to be drawn from them by worldly experience. ‘‘First obstacle in the way of her moral development, her father-—tried, found guilty, and dying in prison. Second obsta- cle, her mother—an unnatural wretch who neglected and de- serted her own flesh and blood. Third obstacle, her mother’s sister—being her mother over again in an aggravated form. People who only look at the surface of things might ask what we gain by investigating Miss Westerfield’s past life. We gain this: we know what to expect of Miss Westerfield in the future.” ‘‘T for one,” Mrs. Linley interposed, ‘‘ expect everything that is good and true.” ‘‘Say she’s naturally an angel,” Mrs. Presty answered; ‘‘ and I won’t contradict you. But do pray hear how my experience tooks at it. I remember what a life she has led, and I ask my- self if any human creature could have suffered as that girl has suffered without being damaged by it. Among those damnable EOMMICOOOKS (©)