The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

Df THE EVIL GENIUS. explain myself. You saw Mrs. MacEdwin talking to me at the party. That good lady’s head—a feeble head, as all her friends admit—has been completely turned by Miss Westerfield. ‘The first duty of a governess’ (this foolish woman said to me) ‘is to win the affections of her pupils. My governess has entirely failed to make the children like her. A dreadful temper; Ihave given her notice to leave my service. Look at that sweet girl and your little granddaughter! I declare I could cry when Isee how they understand each other and love each other.’ I quote our charming friend’s nonsense verbatim (as we used to say when we were in Parliament in Mr. Ormond’s time), for the sake of what it led to. If, by any lucky chance, Miss Westerfield happens to be disengaged in the future, Mrs. MacEdwin’s house is open to her—at her own time and on her own terms. I prom- ised to speak to you on the subject, and I perform my promise. Think over it; I strongly advise you to think over it.” Even Mrs. Linley’s good-nature declined to submit to this. ‘1 shall certainly not think over what cannot possibly happen,” she said. ‘‘ Good-night, mamma.” ‘* Good-night, Catherine. Your temper doesn’t seem to im- prove as you get older. Perhaps the excitement of the party has been too much for your nerves. Try to get some sleep before Herbert comes up from the smoking-room and disturbs you.” Mrs. Linley refused even to let this pass unanswerea. ‘‘ Her- bert is too considerate to disturb me, when his friends keep him up late,” she said. ‘‘On those occasions, as you may see for yourself, he has a bed in his dressing-room.” Mrs. Presty passed through the dressing-room on her way out. ‘* A very comfortable-looking bed,” she remarked, in a tone in- tended to reach her daughter’s ears. ‘‘I wonder Herbert ever leaves it.” The way to her own bedchamber led her by the door of Sydney’s room. She suddenly stopped; the door was not shut. This was in itself a suspicious circumstance. Young or old, ladies are not in the habit of sleeping with their bedroom doors ajar. <A strict sense of duty led Mrs. Presty to listen out- side. No sound like the breathing of a person asleep was to be heard. A strict sense of duty conducted Mrs. Presty next into the room, and even encouraged her to approach the bed on tiptoe. The bed was empty; the clothes had not been disturbed since it had been made in the morning! The old lady stepped out into the corridor in a state of excite- ment which greatly improved her personal appearance. She looked almost young again as she mentally reviewed the list of vices and crimes which a governess might commit who had re- tired before eleven o’clock, and who was not in her bedroom at twelve. On further reflection, it appeared to be barely possible that Miss Westerfield might be preparing her pupil's exercises for the next day. Mrs. Presty descended to the schoolroom, on the first floor. No. Here again there was nothing to see but an empty room, Where was Miss Westerfield? EOMMICLOOOKS (©)