Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-01-11
CHAPTER VIII.

VIII.
After the beginning of Mrs. Jacks
engagement at Beech Grove, Mrs. IiogC
was not often shocked by the spectacle
of that lady "scudding" up and down
the High street. Occasionally Mrs. Jack
went to Percival House. Her visits
there were not made more agreeable
IL an formerly. But as she said to her
self, the Lillys' hard words and hard
ways We're easier to bear, that
she wanted nothing Of them. For
Bell had made up her mind that the
sum she was to get for teaching Ne
little Boddingtons would exc out her
income so that she could live upon
it and pay her way. 1t is true that
this same teaching money was occa-
sionally reckoned twice or three times
over in Mrs. Jacks budget. But, when
ever she became aware of this fact,
she would say, "Oh, well, / will go with
out something for myself, and make
it straight that way" Only, unfortu-
nately, what the something was to
be was never clearly defined in her
mind. Certainly Mrs. Jacks talents did
not lie in the direction Of finance.
Her fa~ther-in-law's family had receiv-
ed the announcement of her engage
ment at Beech Grove with marked
displeasure. Especially Mrs. Lilly felt
a%ggrieved, for she had confidently pre-
dictet that Bell would not get a single
pupil in Codlipgton; and it was hard to
be fatty c~ontradicted by fate in the
shape of an impertinent, accomplished
fact in the matter. Still, there were
mitigations. The people at Beech Grove
We're not Conlingtonians: and that was
almost the same as if Bell had found
10 pupils in Codlington. Neither did
the Boddingtons appear willing to as
sociate with the townspecple. This was
offensive in II sense; but, on the
other hand, it kept Bells teaching
In the backgrounds little out of the
ken Of tie Lillys' circle Of acquaint-
ance. ...
Mrs. Lilly, however, made several
warning speeches to her daughter-in-
law about the strangers. II hope,
Bell" she would say, that this Mrs.
Boddington is a respectable person. We
know nothing about her, yen see. And
it would be very painful to Mr.. Lilly
TO have you mixing yourself up with
doubtful characters in any way"
"Well, Mrs Lilly, it would also be
a little painful to me, I assure you"
"Ah. but you see, Bell, you are so ex-
tremely thoughtless, and your spirits
are so volatile that you would never
feel anything Of the sort as we should.
Another time she said: Now, Bell,
as to this Mrs. Boddingtong, there Is
something queer, l am afraid. Young
Muggeridge, Bates & Booty's articled
clerk you know, told Edgar in the
office only last week that their firm had
had the drawing out Of the lease
Beech Grove Is Sir Henry Higgins
property. Bell-and that 1t was made
out In the name of Warren, and O
Boddington at all. Now what car that
mean?"
Mrs. Boddington's brother is the
master Of the house,
"Oh, indeed, Bell. Well, the whole
business looks strange to me. | should
be very cautious of mixing myself IN
with those people until we know a lit
tie more about them"
Possibly Mrs. Lilly's caution was
whetted TO a keener edge than usual by
the faet or her having, weeks ago, left
a card on the new occupants of Beech
Grove, which %politeness had remained
entirely unnoticed by them. But she
omitted to mention this circumstance TO
Bell. The newcomers formed a topic
OF conversation In all circles of Cod
linSton society for a long time. They
were rather severely handled at select
tea parties; for ~Codlington knew moth
ing OF them, which was an a priori pre-
sumption that there was nothing good
to be said about them. And when you
taik OF people, II you cannot speak Ia
yorably You must speak mfavorably.
The thing is clear! AT least such were