Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-03
CHAPTER vi.
CAPTAIN LANGTON.


June, with it's roses and lilies, passed on,
the IahurnHns had all fallen, the lilies had
vanished and still the state of affairs at Oar
rell Court remained doubtful. Pauline, in
many Of those respects in which her uncle
would fam have seen her changed, remained
unaltered-indeed it was not easy to unlearn
the teachings of lifetime.
Miss Hastings, more patient and hopeful
than Sir Oswald, perSeyered, with infinite
tact and discretion. But there were certain
peculIarities of which Pauline could not be
broken. One was habit Of calling every
thing by its right name. She had no notion
of using any of those polite little fictions So
ciety delights in; no matter how harsh, how
ugly the words, she did not hesitate to use it.
Another popularity was that of telling the
blunt plain, abrupt truth, no matter what
they cost, no matter who was panied. She
tore aside the flimsy veil of society with zest;
she spared no one III her almost ruthless de-
nunciatonS Her intense ScOrn for all kinds
of polite fiction was somewhat annoying.
you need not say that | am engaged,
James" she said one day, when lady call
ed whom she dslked. Il am not engaged,
but do not care to see Mrs. Camden"
Even that bland functionary looked annoy
NIiNS llIGu lllttINt SplllS tOlll-
promise.
You cannot send such a message as that
Miss Darrell. Pray listen to reason"
''Sir Oswald and yourself agreed that she
waS-'
Miss Hastings. You must not hurt any
ones feelings by such blunt message as
that; it is neither polite nor well-bred."
Ch,II 10 oil
good breeding at the expense of truth; there
fore you had better send the message your
self, Miss Hastings"
Il will do SO, said the governeSs, quietly.
Il will manage it in such way as to show
Mrs. Camden that she is not expected to call
sgain, yet so as not to humilate her before
the servants; but remember, not at any
sacrifice of TRUTH
Such contests were of daily, almost hourly,
occurrence. Whether the result would be
such degree of training as to tit the young
lady for taking the position she wished to oc-
cupy, remained doubtful.
''This is really very satisfactory" said Sir
Oswald, abruptly, one morning, as he enter
ed the library, where Miss Hastings awaited
him. But" he continued, "before l ex-
plain myself, let me ask you how are you
with your tireSome pupilN'
The gentle heart of the governeSs was
grieved to think that she could not give a
more satisfactory reply. Little real progress
had been made in study; less in manner.
''There is mass of splendid material. Sir
Oswald" she said "but the difficulty lies in
putting it into shape"
81 am afraid" he observed, people will
make remarks; and 1 have heard more than
one doubt expressed as to what kind of hands
Darrell Court is likely to fall into should |
make Pauline my heiresS. You see she is
capable of almost anything. She would turn
the place into an asylum; she would trans
form it into college for philosophers, a
home for needy artistS-in fact anything
that might occur to her-Without the least
hesitation"
Miss Hastings could not deny it. They
were not speaking of manageable nine
teenth century young lady, but of one te
whom no ordinary rules applied, whom no
customary measures fitted.
81 have a letter here" continued Sir Os-
wald, from Captain Aubrey Langton, the
son of one of my oldest and dearest friends.
He proposes to pay me visit, and-pray
Miss Hastings, pardon me for suggesting
such thing, but l should be so glad if he
would fall in love with Pauline. / have an
idea that love might educate and develop
her more quickly than anything else"
Miss Hastings had already thought the
same thing; but she knew Whoever won the
love of such girl as Pauline Darrell would
be one of the cevereSt of men.
Il am writing to him to tell him that
hope he will remain with us for month
and during that time L hope, l fervently
hope, he may fall in love with my niece
She is beautiful enough. Pardon me agair
MISS Hastings, out mas she ever spoken u
you of love or lovers?
mo. She is in that respect, as in many
Others, quite unlike the generality of girls
hare never heard an allusion to such mat
tiers rom her lips-never once
This fact seemed to Sir Oswald stranger
thar any other; he had an idea that girls de
votei the greater part of their thoughts t.
such subjects
~Dv you think" he inquired, that sh,
Jared for any one in Paris-any of those men
for instance, whom she used to meet at he
father's?"
NO" replied Miss Hastings; 81 do nc
think so. She is strangely backward in al