The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

THE EVIL GENIUS. TT mother. ‘Is she going away?’ They were afraid to answer her. With all her little strength, she clasped her beloved friend and playfellow round the waist. ‘‘ My own dear, you’re not going to leave me?’ The dumb misery in Sydney’s face struck Linley with horror. He placed Kitty in her mother’s arms, The child’s piteous cry, ‘‘ Oh, don’t let her go! don’t let her go!” followed the governess as she suffered her martyrdom, and went out. Linley’s heart ached; he watched her until she was lost te view. # Gone!” he murmured to himself—‘* gone forever.” Mrs. Presty heard him, and answered him: **She’ll come back again!” SHCOND BOOK. CHAPTER XV. THE DOCTOR. As the year advanced, the servants at Mount Morven re- marked that the weeks seemed to follow each other more slowly than usual. In the higher regions of the house the same impres- sion was prevalent; but the sense of dullness among the gentle- folks submitted te circumstances in silence. If the question had been asked in past days: Who is the brightest and happiest member of the family? everybody would have said, Kitty. If the question had been asked at the present time, difference of opinion might have suggested different answers—but the whole household would have refrained with- out hesitation from mentioning the child’s name. Since Sydney Westerfield’s departure Kitty had never held up her head. Time quieted the child’s first vehement outbreaks of distress under the loss of the companion whom she had so dearly loved. Delicate management, gently yet resolutely applied, held the faithful little creature in check, when she tried to discover the cause of her governess’ banishment from the house. She made no more complaints; she asked no more embarrassing questions —but it was miserably plain to everybody about her that she failed to recover her spirits. She was willing to learn her les- sons (not under another governess) when her mother was able to attend to her: she played with her toys, and went out riding on her pony. But the delightful gayety of other days was gone; the shrill laughter that once rang through the house was heard no more. Kitty had become a quiet child; and, worse still, a child who seemed to be easily tired. | The doctor was consulted. He was a man skilled in the sound medical practice that learns COMMICOO© S (E() im