The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

THE EVIL GENIUS. 43 ‘‘Only an aunt, who has treated her in the most inhuman manner.” ‘‘ Serious news for Miss Westerfield, as you say,” Randal re- sumed. ‘‘ And, as I think, serious news for us. Here is a mere girl—a poor friendless creature—absolutely dependent on our protection. What are we to do if anything happens, in the fut- ure, to alter our present opinion of her ?”’ we te of the sort is likely to happen,” Mrs. Linley de- elared. ‘* Let us hope not,” Randal said gravely. CHAPTER V. RANDAL WRITES TO NEW YORK. THE members of the family at Mount Morven consulted to- Sets before Sydney Westerfield was informed of her brother’s disappearance and of her mother’s death. Speaking first, as master of the house, Herbert Linley offered his opinion without hesitation. His impulsive kindness shrank from the prospect of reviving the melancholy recollections as- sociated with Sydney’s domestic life. ‘*‘ Why distress the poor child, just as she is beginning to feel happy among us?” he asked. ‘‘ Give me the newspaper; I sha’n’t feel easy till I have torn it up.” His wife drew the newspaper out of his reach. ‘* Wait a lit- tle,” she said, quietly: ‘‘ some of us may feel that it is no part of our duty to conceal the truth.” Mrs. Presty spoke next. To the surprise of the family coun- cil, she agreed with her son-in-law. ‘‘Somebody must speak out,” the old lady began; *‘and I mean to set the example. Telling the truth,” she declared, turning severely to her daughter, ‘‘ is a more complicated affair than you seem tothink. It’s a question of morality, of course; but—in family circles, my dear—it’s sometimes a question of convenience as well. Is it convenient to upset my granddaugh- ter’s governess, just as she is entering on her new duties? Cer- tainly not! Good heavens, what does it matter tomy young friend Sydney whether her unnatural mother lives or dies? Herbert, Isecond your proposal to tear up the paper with the greatest pleasure.” Herbert, sitting next to Randal, laid his hand affectionally on his brother’s shoulder. ‘‘ Are you on our side?” he asked. Ran- da! hesitated. ‘*‘ Always the same!” said good-humored Herbert. ‘*Randai never knows his own mind.” This was the view generally taken of the younger brother's character. Relatives and friends never discovered that Randal Linley was one of those rare persons who possess an evenly- balanced mind. A sensitive man in temperament, the impulses to which he was subject were held habitually in check by the sense of justice which was the predominant sense in his moral nature. The result, looking at the surface only, produced an ap- pearance of indecision, which was a false appearance in the strictest sense of the word. COMMICOO® Ss (CO) im