Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-15
XIV,


Mount MOrven remarked that the weeks
seemed to follow each other more slowly
than usual. In the higher regions of the
house the same impression was prevalent;
but the sense of dizziness among the gentle
folks submitted to circumstances in silence
If the question had been asked in past
days: Who is the brightest and happiest
member of the family? everybody would have
said: Kitty. Ii the question had been ask
ed at the present time, differences of opinion
might have suggested different answerS-but
the whole household would have refrained
without hesitation from mentioning the
child'S name.
Since Sydney Westerfeld's departure Kitty
had never held up her head.
Time quieted the chiId's first vehement
outbreaks of distress under the loss of the
companion whom she had so dearly loved.
Delicate management, gently yet resolutely
applied held the faithful little creature in
check when she tried to discover the cause Of
her governeSS' Punishment from the house.
She made no more complaints; she asked no
more embarrassing questions; but it was mis-
erably plain to everybody about her that she
failed to recover her spirits. She was will
ing to learn her lessons (not under another
gOverneSS) when her mother was able to at
tend to her; she played with her toys and
went out riding on her pony. But the de-
Ightful gayety of other days was gone; the
Shrll laughter that once rang through the
house was heard no more. Kitty had become
@ quiet child; and, worse still, child who
seemed to be easily tired.
The doctor was consulted.
He was man skilled in the sound medical
practice that learns its lesson without books
bedside practice. His opinion declared
that the child'S vital power was seriously
lowered. Some cause is at work here" he
said to the mother, (which | don't under
stand. Can you help me?" Mrs. Linley
helped him without hesitation. My little
daughter dearly loved her governess; and her
governeSS has been obliged to leave us.'
That was her reply. The doctor wanted to
hear no more; he at once advised that Kitty
should be taken to the seaside, and that
everything which might remind her Of the
absent friend-books, presents, even articles
of clothing likely to revive old associations
should be left at home. A new life, in new
air. When pen, ink, and paper were offered
to him that was the doctors prescription.
Mrs. Linley consulted her husband on the
choice Of the seaside place to which the child
should be removed.
The blank which Sydney's departure left
In the life of the household was felt by the
master and mistress of Mount Morven-and
felt, unhappily, without any open ayowal on
either side OF what was passing in their
minds. In this way the goYernesS became a
forbidden subject between them; the hus-
band waited for the wife to set the example
of approaching it, and the wife waited for
the husband. The trial of temper produced
by this state of hesitation, and by the secret
doubts which it encouraged, led insenSibly
to certain estrangement-wh Linley in
particular was morbidly unwilling to &C.
knowledge. If,when the dinner hour brought
them together, he was silent and dull in his
wife'S presence, he attributed it to anxiety
on the subject of his brother-then absent on
serious business erTand in London. If he
sometimes left the house the first thing in
the morning and only returned at night it
was because the management of the model
farm had become one of his duties in Ran
dafs absence. Mrs. Linley made no attempt
to dispute this view of the altered circum-
stances in home life--but she submitted with
mind i'll at ease. Secretly fearing that
Linley was suffering under Miss Westerfeld's
absence, she allowed herself to hope that
Kitty father would see necessity, in his
own case, for change of scene and would ac-
company them to the seaside.
won't you come with us, Herbert?' she
suggested, when they had both agreed on the
choice of a place.
His temper was in state of constant irri-
tation. Without meaning it, he answered
her harmless question sharply.
"How can go away with you when we