The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1861-12-03

said
We have had the pleasure sfJraee.1.
before, Cnthbert
A told you, murmured the govern
ess, j went down to tell him you were
absent
The ceremonies Of dinner now began,
and. as a seat had been arranged for me
beside Blanche, tried TO play the agreea-
bic. but found my thoughts wandering
70 the pale, silent girl opposite. When
the meal was over, aud the ladies had left
the room, we fingered al our wine.
What do yon think Of our sister Z
asked CulhbertF
She is very beautiful ! replied.
And you have fallen in love with her
at FIRST sight Z
III have. shall not tell you ! | ex-
claimed, and then we went on chatting in
a merry strain. When we adjourned TO
the great, cool luxurious parlor, found
Mrs. Cuthbert and her sister, but the
goserness was walking too aud fro on the
terrace, apparently absorbed in thought.
The usual su all talk ensued, and at last,
at my request, the heiress sal down at the
piano, and played and sung with much
skill. and ! had observed a harp in the
boudoir adjacent, and begged her TO sweep
its strings for me.
4 cannot, she said, but Marguerite
can--l will call her. And moving to
the window, she exclaimed, imperiously:
Come, Marguerite, we wish you to play
some airs on the harp
The governess hesitated moment
came in and took seat at the harp. As
she sat there, | noticed, for the first time,
the superb proportions of her figure, the
graceful poise Of her head on the stately
neck but forgot those when she smote
the harp ahd began 10 sing. Was she an
improvisatrice lthough. she must be-
so full of soul was the music she poured
forth, and asked Mrs. Cuthbert whose
composition II was.
Her own she replied and she never
knows what she is going TO sing when she
commences.
] uttered no fulsome words Of commen-
dation to Marguerite, but my eyes must
have spoken volumes of approval.
That night when retired to my rest,
my dreams were not haunted by the heir
ess, but by the pale face ] had seen at the
window-the face Of Marguerite, the gov
erness.
The next morning ! was awake at an
early hour, glancing out, saw Marguerite
gliding across the lawn. | FASTENED to join
her; her cheeks wore rich glow, her
dark lustrous eyes were full OF light, her
lips tremulous with smiles her white
apron was full OF snowy blossoms, and she
had wreathed spray of jessemine amid
the blackness of her hair.
How we began to talk, hardly know,
but never was so entertained by any wo-
man as by her. / could touch upon no
subject Of literature or art with which she
was not familiar, and Madame de Steal
might have coveted her conversational
powers. On the lawn we separated, but,
when we met at breakfast in the presence
of the Cuthberts. and tile supercilious heir
ess, saw that the old governess look had
come back to her face, and she was more
reticent than ever. My friend proposed a
horseback excursion to boiling spring in
the neighborhood, and, when our party as
sembled on the yerandah, | noticed with
the keenest disappointment that the gov
erness had been excluded. rode at the
bride-rein of the fair Blanche, who looked
very pretty in tie blue habit, and with
her velvet hat set coquetishly above her
golden trcsses but found it impossible
to interest myself in her commonplace
chit-chat. / felt sense of lief when
we dismounted at the Hall, and as soon as
| had led my partner in, bounded up the
staircase. On the way to my chamber i
passed an open door, and through it caught
glimpse Of Marguerite. The Two child
rem were busy at their asks, and she sat
patiently correcting a sketch which one OF
them Ead made. A portfolio lay beside
her which | doubted not was filed with
her drawings. She heard my step, and
looking up, saw me on the threshold.
What : she exclaimed, have you re-
turned so soon | did not expect you
for an hour or two. ] hope you have en-
joyed yourself?
No have not. ] was really disap-
pointed because you did not 60
A fain, smile passed over her face.
IL she muttered, you can't under
stand etiquette, if you suppose governess
is TO be made an equal
felt the blood rush TO my brow as ]
replied;
There are many false notions in socie-
ty am sure Mrs. Cuthbert's governess
is the equal Of any one, and as such re-
gard her.
Her face crimsoned, and for time
there was silence, which broke by say
ing:
is this the school room z
Yes
II looks very cool and pleasant may
come in Z
/ suppose Mrs. Cuthbcrt wouId have