Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-02-24
CHAPTER V


 lani, my lord and my lady returned unex- pectedly to London. Introduced to the mountains and lakes of the Highlands, her ladyship positively declined to improve her acquaintance with them. When she was asked for her reason, she answered with a Roman brevity, "I have seen Switzerland"
 For week more the newly married couple remained ill London, in the strictest retire ment. On one day in that week the nurse re- turned in a state of most uncustomary ex- citement from an errand on which Agnes had sent her. Passing the door of fashionable dentist she had met Lord Montbarry himself just leaving the house. The good woman's report described him, with malicious pleasure, as looking wretchedly ill. "Hs cheeks are getting hollow, my dear, and his beard is turning gray. hope the dentist hurt him!"
 Knowing how heartily her faithful old servant hated the man who had deserted her, Agnes made due allowance for large infu- sion of exaggeration in the picture presented to her. The main impression produced on her mind was an impression of nervous un- easiness. If she trusted herself ill the streets by daylight while Lord Montbarry remained in London, how could she be sure that his next chance meeting might not be meeting with herself? Sine waited at home, privately ashamed of her own superstitious fears for the next two days On the third day the fashionable intelligence of the newspapers announced the departure of Lord and Lady Montbarry for Paris, on their way to Italy.
 Mrs. Ferrari, calling the same evening, in formed Agnes that her husband had left her with all reasonable expression of conjugal kindness, his temper being improved by the prospect of going abroad. But one other servant accompanied the travelers-Lady , AL.,. L woman, so far as Emily had heard. Her ladyship's brother, Baron Rivar, was already on the continent. It had been arranged that be was to meet his sister and her husband at Rome.
 One by one the dull weeks succeeded each other in the life of Agnes. She faced her position with admirable courage, seeing her friends, keeping herself occupied in her leisure hours with reading and drawing, leaving no means untried of diverting her mind from the melancholy remembrance of the past. But she had loved too faithfully, she had been wounded too deeply, to feel in any adequate degree the influence of the moral remedies which she employed. Per sons who met with her in the ordinary rela- tions of life, deceived by her outward sereni- ty of manner. agreed that "Miss Lockwood seemed to be getting over her disappolnt- ment" But an old friend and school conl- panion, who happened to s', her during brief visit to London, was inexpressibly dis dressed by the change that she detected in Agnes. This lady was Mrs. Westwick, the wife of that brother of Lord Montbarry who came next to him in age, and who was de- scribed in The Peerage as presumptive heir to the title. He was tAen away, looking after his interests in some mining property which he possessed in America. Mrs. Vest wick insisted on taking Agnes back with her to her home in Ireland. "Come and keep me company while my husband is away. My three little girls will make you their playfel- low, and the only stranger you will meet is the governess, whom answer for your liking beforehand. Pack up your things, and will call for you tomorrow on my way to the train." In those heerty terms the invitation was given. Agnes thankfully accepted it. For three happy months she lived under the roof of her friend. The girls hung round her ill tears at her departure; the youngest of them wanted to go back with Agnes to Lon don. Half in jest, half in earnest, she said to her old friend at parting: eff your govern ess leaves you, keep the place open for me-" Mrs. Westwick laughed. The wiser children took it seriously, and promised to let Agnes know.