The Argosy — page 224: what you’re looking at

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

208 Recollections of a Governess. In a few minutes he returned, and some of the men with him. The fact was some lambs of a new breed of sheep had been worried by a dog. As there was no other dog allowed at the Manor, poor Coonach was accused of it, and in the first burst of anger and annoy- ance Mr. Crayford ordered him to be hanged, and hanged he was. Repenting himself, he sent James as fast as he could to stop the cruel sentence. Alas, he was too late ; the deed was done. Mr. Crayford was exceedingly vexed when he found his order had been executed, and, unable to tell Helen himself, he mounted his horse and went to attend some meeting at Wernbury, without coming to break- fast. It would have been better, perhaps, if he Aad told her ; and yet I can understand his shrinking from the task. At breakfast Helen asked for Coonach, and James mumbled something and retreated. A short time after she rang the drawing-room bell, and guessing poor Coonach was wanted, James point blank refused to be the bearer of the news ; so Stevens was obliged to come himself. ‘“‘ T want Coonach,” Helen said. Stevens put down a pot of hya- cinths, began rubbing his hands and fidgeting with the newspapers. “Will you tell James to bring him?” she added. Stevens left the papers, and began to retreat, but, advancing again, and again rubbing his hands, he said, “Three of the new lambs was worried last night, and two more badly hurt.” ‘¢ Poor things !” said Helen, looking a little surprised. “It was a dog as had done it,” continued the butler. “T suppose so. Shall we go out a little, auntie, it’s so bright this morning?” Helen said, turning to me, looking her astonishment at the butler’s loquacity. ‘‘Send Coonach, please.” Stevens rubbed his hands harder than ever. I thought he was very odd. ‘I’m sorry, ma’am,” he said, standing first on one leg, then on the other; “I believe there has been a mistake, a great mistake. The shepherd told master it was a dog as did it, and as Coonach is our only dog, you see, ma’am ” ‘‘ Nonsense,” said Helen’; *“ what has my Coonach to do with the lambs ?” , “I’m exceedingly sorry, ma’am, and I’m sure master is very much put. out indeed, ma’am, about 1t.” ‘ About what ?”’ said Helen, puzzled ; “oh, about the lambs ; I see.” “ Yes, ma’am, about the lambs, but more particular about Coonach, poor fellow. You see, ma’am, a dog as once takes to worrying of sheep. never leaves it off, never. But, of course they should have made sure it was Coonach as did it, they should.” I turned quite sick. I felt convinced poor Coonach had suffered, and that must have caused Mr. Crayford’s anger in the morning. “You don't mean to say they have done anything to my.dog ?” ex- claimed Helen. ECORNICLOOO SS (C(O) in —_)