The Argosy — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

152 Parkwater. “‘Sakes alive, sir!” she uttered in astonishment, “ whatever is the matter? I never saw anybody in such a pickle in my life.” “You may well ask what it is, Dame May!” spluttered Mr. Jones. “It is the work of your daughter. I addressed a polite word to her as civilly as I could speak it, and she flung this poison over me—or what- ever it is. It’s well for the house that it’s going to have a clearance.” ‘““What did you do that for, Sophiar ?” demanded Mrs. May, when she reached the kitchen. “Do what P?” “That to Mr. Jones.” ‘“‘ Because I pleased to do it.” ‘Whatever shall we do with you if you are to behave like this?” cned poor Mrs. May. ‘“ Your temper is upset to-day, Sophiar.” “I have had enough to upset it,” replied Sophia. ‘“ But I will not trouble you long, mother. I have been thinking of matter: upstairs, and my mind is made up. Your home and father’s will never be any fit home for me, so I must leave it and go out in the worid.” ** As lady’s maid?” briskly responded Mrs. May. *“No. As governess. I will enter some nobleman’s family.” ** A nobleman’s family, child !—what, a lord’s? ” “Why not?” coolly asked Sophia. | ‘Qh, but don’t you see,” spoke Mrs. May, “ how things would be against it? You can never get admittance to a lord’s family as governess, Sophiar. They want real ladies for governesses, lords do: leastways those that have had different beginnings from ours. Why, when they came for what they call references, and found us what we are, me and your father living in a kitchen, and all that, no lord would think you good enough to teach his children.” Sophia’s life was rather a mortified life just then. She recognised the doubt at least as forcibly as her mother. “We should never have wanted you to go out at all, child, never ; not as lady’s maid, or anything; only your Aunt Foxaby got thinking afore you came home that you’d not like to live in these kitchens, brought up so superior. But if you cou/d reconcile yourself to stay with us, Sophiar, why you'd just be the comfort of me and of your father. We've got but you.” ‘Now, mother, could you expect it ?” Mrs. May sighed. Had they been making a mistake all along? ‘“‘ There seems to be only one course open to me,” observed Sophia ; ‘“that of going out as governess. It shall be in a high family, or not at all.” ‘‘Tt can never be a lord’s, child, I’m afraid.” “You will ee,” returned Sophia. CORNICE OOS (GO)