The Widowed Bride — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

130 THE WIDOWED BRIDE. rid of her effectually. Lady Carrisley wrote someta.ng to me about wanting a governess to take to Paris with her, and Julia Fenwick is always quarreling with her gover. nesses. I can find her a situation she will scarcely have the face to refuse.” And so, having safely dispatched her’ telegraphic missive by the hand of a trusty servant, the countess joined her daughter and Miss Percival in the former's sitting-room. “‘Well, my love,” she said, turning to Blanche, ‘Sir Morford’s visit will have the effect of altering our plans very materially. We must go down to Brighton in to- morrow morning’s earliest train—he thinks you need sea alr. ‘“‘But, mamma, the drawing-room!” cried Blanche, with a face of surprise. | ‘T know it, but there will be other drawing-rooms later in the season. You-don’t mind being disappointed for once?” ‘“No, mamma, but—Lady St. Burgoyne,who is coming up from Balfour Castle on purpose to present me.” ‘Tl can write her an explanatory letter.” ‘‘But I am not so sick as to necessitate so much haste as this, mamma,” cried Blanche, with a puzzled face. “No, darling, but you know Sir Morford’s apt to be rather autocratic, and having once placed you under his care, it will be necessary that you obey his directions with circum- stantial exactness.” ‘Well, mamma, I will do just as you wish,” meekly as- sented Lady Blanche, whose docility and sweetness of tem- per were rather a contrast to her mother’s somewhat despotic temperament. ‘‘But how can Rena go? Her dress is at the modiste’s yet.” Lady Glenhampton lifted her large black eyes, and fixed them full upon the face of Rena, who glanced at her in the Same moment. “Tam sorry,” she said; ‘‘but it would be a great accom- modation to me if Miss Percival would remain in Gros- venor square to take charge of things a little for the pres- ent.” a ‘“Mamma,” interposed Blanche, ‘‘surely the house- keeper fe Blanche,” said Rena,with the crimson glow rising to her cheeks, ‘“‘pray do not deprive me of the pleasure of becom- GEomicbooks is ~3 & com — - i - , ae ——. st