The Argosy — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

Parkwater. 153 CHAPTER IV. AT PARKWATER. THE beams of a September sun, drawing near its setting, were falling on the mansion pertaining to a well-cultivated estate in one of the better parts of Ireland. ‘The house was not erected in a critical style of architecture, for it was a straggling, in-and-out sort of building, that seemed to have been added-to indiscriminately at different times—a room here, a room there; but the scenery around was beautiful. It was called Parkwater. At the window of one of the reception-rooms, gazing at an approaching car, stood a pretty, quiet-looking lady, unassuming in face as in dress. She appeared a simple-hearted, cordial woman, quite devoid of pretence and affectation ; and such she was. It was Lady Tennygal. She had dined in the middie of the day with her children. She was devoted to them ; and when her lord was absent, she was apt to forget pomp and state. Lady Tennygal was expecting the arrival of the new governess to her little girls, and had hospitably thought she would wait tea for her: no doubt this car contained the lady. The Countess rang the bell. “Reed, show that lady in to me at once. I think it is the governess.” ‘6 -Ves, my lady.” A minute or two, and the same man threw the door open for the governess. A tall, fair girl with a handsome face. The countenance had, however, a peculiar expression ; very determined, and not always pleasing. ‘Miss May, my lady.” Miss May came forward, her head erect, and her air consequential. One might have deemed, indeed, that she was the lady and the other the governess. She dropped a ceremonious curtsey, very low, just as you may have seen from a Frenchwoman. ‘© Have I the honour of addressing Lady Tennygal ? ” The Countess inclined her head. ‘An uncompromising-looking young woman,” she thought to herself, “but that’s all proper, I suppose, for a governess. Allow me to welcome you to Parkwater, Miss May," she said, aloud. ‘“‘T hope you will find your residence here . agreeable.” _ “Madam, I thank you for your kind wishes. I trust I shall perform my duties to your satisfaction.” ‘And when you have taken off your things, which I daresay you are anxious to do, we will have tea,” said the pleasant little Countess, ‘¢and you shall see your pupils. I thought we would take tea together this evening, that we might grow acquainted with each other. I have the children very much with me when Lord Tennygal is absent.” Miss May was shown to her rooms. When she returned from them CORNICE OOS (GO) __) _