The Argosy — page 170: what you’re looking at

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

160 Parkwater. of disrespect: and your father is not old yet. Come in now, Devereux, and take some luncheon.” Rose still harped upon her wrongs, enlightening the governess as to the ever non-fulfilment of the promises as to live dolls and gondolas. ‘Don’t you think it is a great shame of Uncle Tody, Miss May ?” ‘‘ Perhaps it was not his fault,” suggested the governess. ‘‘ What is your uncle’s name ?” “Why, it’s Uncle Tody.” “ But his other name?” ‘Captain Devereux,” said Laura. ‘“‘ He is mamma’s brother.” “He is not a real captain now, you know, because he has. no men to command,” interposed Rose. ‘“ Grandpapa was so angry with him.” ‘Who is your grandpapa, Lady Laura?” inquired the governess. “Sir Archibald Devereux. He is one of the Queen’s Officers of State, and he makes laws.” With the last piece of information the children were called to be made ready for their dinner, which they took at the luncheon-table. As did the governess, Miss May did not exchange a word with Captain Devereux, but he glanced at her often with his black eyes. Afterwards, when she was alone in her sitting-room, she unlocked her desk and took out a French book. Sophia did well to keep it, and all such books, locked up : it would have astonished Lady Tennygal had sheseen them at Parkwater. The governess appeared, however, to find amusement in it, for she sat reading it till the bells rang out for afternoon service. “Those droning bells again !” was her grumbling ejaculation. “Of course I shall be expected to attend—and not a creature ta look at one except parish rustics! Had I known this was such a wretched, out-of- the-world neighbourhood, I might not have been so eager to get to it.” Miss May was right: she was expected to attend. But she appeared with an English prayer-book, the gift of Lady Tennygal: who, in pre- senting it, had made a special request that the French one might be put away out of sight, and never be taken to church at Parkwater again. Sophia wished the church at Hanover, oras much farther off as it could be induced to go. She foresaw, indeed, that she should lead but a dull life of it at Parkwater. Sober routine was not congenial to her, she feared. As to this gentleman, Captain Devereux, who had enlivened their dulness to-day, she supposed he had but come on a very tempo- rary visit, and that the probability was she should not exchange a word with him while he stayed. But she would have liked to well enough. He struck her as being quite a noble-looking man, especially by the side of that shrimp, Lord Tennygal : and she at least did not see any- thing to dislike in his manners or expression. I said before that some people did not: rather the contrary: and Miss May was one. (Zo be continued.) o z& ECOMRRIC OOO Ss (GO)