The Argosy — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

222 Mrs. Montagw’s Governess. suppose you will be satisfied with her recommendation alone?” added Miss Lockhart, hesitatingly, and it was the first sign of nervousness that she had betrayed. ‘I have lived with her for four years.” | ‘Certainly ; it will be quite sufficient,” said Mrs. Montagu. And there the interview would have ended, but Mr. Montagu had suddenly a fresh suggestion to make. ‘‘My dear,” said he, turning to his wife, ‘you are going into town this week ; could you not go to-morrow and call in Portland Place ?” ‘Tt may not be convenient to Lady Ringwood to see me,” said Mrs. Montagu, colouring a little with bashfulness. ‘“ She is leaving for Mentone in a few days, for the benefit of her husband’s health.” “ Pray call!” cried Miss Lockhart, eagerly. ‘If it is not putting you to too much trouble, I should like you to speak to Lady Ringwood ; and she, I am sure, would prefer it to writing,” concluded the young lady with confidence ; and she spoke the truth. The distance from Freshfield to London was but a matter of twenty miles or thereabouts, and it was still early when Mrs. Montagu found her way next day to Portland Place, where she met with a kind reception. Lady Ringwood and Laura Montagu moved in very different spheres of society, but both were essentially good women, and they understood one another instinctively. Of Miss Lockhart, Lady Ringwood spoke with the most cordial commendation. ‘I can only say, Mrs. Montagu, that I myself regard Miss Lockhart with feelings of affection and esteem. Her management of children is wonderful. Mine adore her, yet she is in many respects very strict with them. I feel. parting with her deeply and have offered to make arrangements to keep her; but she prefers to bé independent, perhaps justly. The truth is that I can hardly discuss Miss Lockhart under the form of employer and employed; she has been more of a friend to me.” Naturally, as the upshot of the interview, Miss Lockhart was engaged by Mrs. Montagu, it being further arranged that she should go down to Freshfield upon the following Monday to enter upon her new duties. Mrs. Montagu found Miss Lockhart all that Lady Ringwood had declared her, and more. She kept all those unruly little people in check, yet made them happy ; and very shortly her clever help and sweet temper had rendered her indispensable to Mrs. Montagu, who could no longer have imagined existence without her invaluable governess’s aid and support. ti. TimE went on, bringing no changes into that quiet house at Freshfield. At length, after a couple of years of this peaceful monotony, a small event was in prospect which promised to vary the COMIC IOOKSa6OLM