The Argosy — page 324: what you’re looking at

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

310 } Parkwater. ‘“No, sur: he has not a night to marry whom he pleases, when the step would disgrace himself and his family,” retorted Mr. Lyvett. “‘ My family are prejudiced, or they would not deem this a disgrace. I acknowledge that Sophia May’s birth and rearing are not equal to mine ; but many better men than I have got over that obstacle, and found themselves none the worse for it.” ‘We will put her birth out of the discussion, if you will,” said Mr. Lyvett ; “‘ her rearing also. There is a more serious obstacle, Frederick. Pray are you aware that she went out as governess ?” “Yes. In Lady Tennygal’s family.” ‘¢ And did you hear how she got in, there ?” ‘Got in?” echoed Frederick. ‘I don’t understand you, sir.” ** She got in to Lord Tennygal’s heuse by fraud. Gave false accounts of herself; forged certificates, and al] that. Now you are a lawyer, Fred, and know how that can be punished.” ‘“ Nonsense, sir! You must be under a mistake.” ‘“‘J am under no mistake,” returned Mr. Lyvett. ‘One of the letters of recommendation purported to come from us—Lyvett, Castlerosse, and Lyvett. Her father was palmed off as a dead man, but once an eminent solicitor and fnend of ours. Other recom- mendations were equally false ; and, on these, she was admitted to the family. Lord Tennygal applied to us afterwards, and to Lady Langton ; who, in point of fact, was the first person imposed upon, as it was she who saw the certificates and engaged Miss May; and thus the plot was laid bare. Miss May’s services in Lord Tennygal’s family were dispensed with the same day.” ‘‘ But she could have known nothing of these false recommendations !” exclaimed Fred Lyvett. ‘Of course not,” mimicked his father. ‘They dropped into Lady Langton’s hands from the clouds, just in the nick of need. What a greenhorn you are, Fred!” ‘If you knew her, you would not suspect her of such conduct,” re- torted Frederick. ‘She is honour itself. Perhaps her parents, over- anxious, may have been tempted But I have no right to say this. However it may have been, I will stake my name that she herself was innocent.” ‘You'd lose the stake. There can be little doubt that she herselt furnished them. At any rate, there can be none that she was a party to the conspiracy. I forget the details now, but it was all plain enough to meat the time. The old Dowager Langton came to me at the office, and we went into the matter together. A fine rage she was in ; threatened to prosecute Miss May. Steer clear of her, Fred, my boy : she’s too clever for you.” ‘Of course I will inquire into this,” conceded Frederick. ‘But I CORnniclooolkks (CO)