Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-26
CHAPTER v.

TUE PROGRESS MADE BY THE PUPIL.
It was beautiful afternoon in June. May,
with it lilac and hawthorn, had passed away;
the roses were in fairest bloom, lilies looked
like great White stars; the fulneSS and beau
ty, the warmth and fragrance of summer
were on the face of the land and everything
living rejoced in it.
Pauline had begged that the daily readings
might take place under the great cedar tree
on the lawn.
If mnst he bcred by dry historical facts"
she said let me at least have the lights and
shadows OH the lawn TO look at The Shad-
oW OF the uTGS on the grass is Beautiful be-
yond everything else. Oh, Miss Hastings,
why will people write dull histories? l like
to fancy all kings heroes, and all queens
heroines. History leaves us no Illusions"
STILL" replied the governess, 'it teaches
us plenty of what you love so much-tluth."
The beautiful face grew very serious and
thoughtful.
"Why are so many truths disagreeabe and
! sad? If could rule, | would have the world
SO bright, SO fair and glad, every one sc hap
Ply. l cannot understand all this under-cur-
! rent of sorrow"
"Comte did not explain it, then to your
satisfactiOn?' said Miss Hastings.
''Comtew cried the girl, impatiently. Il
am not obliged to believe all read! Once
and for all, Miss Hastings, l do not believe
i'll Comte or his fellows. only read what
he wrote because people seemed to think it
clever to have done SO. You knOw-yOu
must know-that believe in our great Faith
er. Who could look round Oh this lovely
world and not do sop
Miss Hastings felt more hopeful of the girl
then than she had ever felt before. Such
strange, wild theories had fallen at times
from her lips that it was some consolation to
know she had still a childs faith.
Then came an interruption in the shape of
a footman, with Sir Oswald's compliments,
and would the ladies go to the drawing
room? There were visitors.
"Who are they" asked Miss Darrell, alb
ruptly.
The man replied:
''Sr George and Lady Hampton"
II shall not 60" said Pauline, decidedly;
shat woman sickens me with her false airs
and silly, false graces. 1 have not patience
to talk to her."
''Sir Oswald will not be pleased" remon-
strated Miss Hastings.
THAT cannot help-it is not my fault l
shall not make myself a hypocrite to please
Sir Oswald"
Society has duties which must be dis
charged, and which do not depend upon our
liking; we must do our duty whether we like
it or not"
Il detest society," was the abrupt reply
''it is all shamp
Then why not do your best to improve it?
That would surely be better than to abuse it."
''There is something in that" confessed
Miss Darrell, slowly.
If we each do our little best toward MAX
| ing the world even ever so little better than
we found it." said Miss Hastings, 1--WE shall
not have lived in vain"
| There was singular grandeur of generosi-
| ty about the girl If she saw that she was
| wrong in an argument or an opinion, she adj
mitted it with the most charming candor.
| That admission she made now by rising at
once to accompany Miss Hastings.
The drawing-room at Darrell Court was a
magnificent apartment; it had been furnish
| ed under the superintendent of the late
| Lady Darrell, lady of exquisite taste. 1t
| was all white and gold, the white hangings
with bullion fringe and geld braids the white
! damask with delicate border of gold: the
| pictures, the costly statues cleaned in the
| midst of rich and rare flowers; graceful Orna-
| mentS, tall, slender vases were filled with
| choicest blossoms; the large mirrors, with
their golden frames, were each and all per-
j.. feet in their way. There was nothing gaudy,
| brilliant. Or dazzling; all was subdued, in
| perfect good taste and harmony.
! In this superb room the beauty Of Pauline
| Darrell always showed to great advantage;
| she was in perfect keeping with its splendor.
| As she entered now, with her usual half
| naughty. half-listless grace, Sir Oswald look
ed up with admiration plainly expressed ON
| his face.
"What a Queenly mistress she would make
| for the Court, if she would but behave like
other people!' he thought to himself, and
| Their Lady Hampton rose to greet the girl
MY dear Miss Darrell, | was getting quite
impatient, it seems an age since saw YOU
really an age"
1T is an exceeding short one" returned
| Pauline; Il scw you on Tuesday, Lady
| Hampton"
did you? All, yes; how could forget?
| All my dear child, when you reach my age
when your mind is filled with hundred
| different matters-you will not have such
good memory as YOU have now"
| Lady Hampton was little. over-dressed
| woman. She looked all flowers and furbe-
| lows-all ribbons and laces. She was, how
ever, a perfect mistress of all the arts of p0-
| lite society: she knew exactly what to say
| and how to say it: she knew when to smile.