The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story — page 90: what you’re looking at

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THE EVIL GENIUS. 79 knows when Randal will be free to return, or what bad news he may bring with him when he does come back.” ‘You have many anxieties, Herbert; and I ought to have re- membered them.” That gentle answer touched him. He made the best apology in his power, he said his nerves were out of order, and asked her to excuse him if he had spoken roughly. There was no un- friendly feeling on either side; and yet there was something wanting in the reconciliation. Mrs. Linley left her husband, shaken by a conflict of feelings. At one moment she felt angry with him; at another she felt angry with herself. With the best intentions (as usual) Mrs. Presty made mischief nevertheless. Observing that her daughter was in tears, and feeling sincerely distressed by the discovery, she was eager to administer consolation. ‘‘ Make your mind easy, my dear, if you have any doubt about Herbert’s movements when he is aswvay from home. I followed him myself the day before yester- day-when he went out. A long walk for an old woman—but I[ can ascure you that he does really go to the farm.” Implicitly trusting her husband—and rightly trusting him— Linley’s wife replied by a look which Mrs. Presty received in si- lent indignation. She summoned her dignity and marched out of the room. Five minutes afterward, Mrs. Linley received an intimation that her mother was seriously offended, in the form of a little note: ‘*T find that my maternal interest in your welfare, and my de- voted efforts to serve you, are only rewarded with furious looks, The less we see of each other the better. Permit me to thank you for your invitation, and to decline accompanying you when you leave Mount Morven to-morrow.” Mrs. Linley answered the note in person. The next day Kittv’s grandmother—ripe for more mischief on the next favorable occasion—altered her mind, and thoroughly enjoyed her journey to the seaside. CHAPTER XVI. THE CHILD. DURING the first week there was an improvement in the child’s health, which justified the doctor’s hopeful anticipations. Mrs. Linley wrote cheerfully to her husband; and the better nature of Mrs. Linley’s mother seemed, by some inscrutable process, to thrive morally under the encouraging influences of the sea-air. It may be a bold thing to say, but it issurely true that our virt- ues depend greatly on the state of our health. During the second week the reports sent to Mount Morven were less encouraging. The improvement in Kitty was main- tained; but it made no further progress. The lapse of the third week brought with it depressing results. There could be no doubt now that the child was losing ground. Bitterly disappointed, Mrs. Linley wrote to her medical adviser, describing the symptoms. and asking for instructions. The doc- tor wrote back: ‘‘ Find out where your supply of drinking-water GomiGhdooks (CE) im