Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-03-01
CHAPTER TX.

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f. CHAPTER TX.
Mrs. Boddington actually did nerve
herself to the unusual effort of carry
ing out an intention without delay,
and did actually call that very after
noon on Mrs. Lilly. The spectacle Of
the smart pony carriage standing at
the door of Percival, House excited
much curiosity and interest in the
breasts of such Codlingtonians as were
fortunate enough to see it.
It is to be supposed, either that Mrs.
Boddington was able satisfactorily to
excuse her hardness in returning Mrs.
Lilly's visit, or else that the latter lady,
in her Astounding charity, forgive the
delay without requiring any excuse at
all; for the stranger was received with
all courtesy, and even eagerness of well
come, at Percival House.
Mrs Lilly pronounced her manners
agreeable-'so quiet" (as indeed they
house shady. and the Lilly family tri-
eve Of falling into a gentle doze twice
or thrice during her visit.) Rebecca
was pleased to find that she attended
Chrysotom Stole. whose church happen
ed to be within an easy distance of
Beech Grove. and Emma observed ev-
cry fold Of her dress intently, with a
view to copying it as closely as circum-
stances would permit at the earliest
opportunity.
The same evening the family at
Beech Grove was assembled in the
pleasant drawing room after dinner.
The lamps We're not lighted. The
moonlight and sweet smell of flowers
were pouring in at the open windows.
Mr.. Warren liked this half gloom of a
summer twilight or moonlight because
it was favorable to reverie and tender
thoughts. Mr.. Boddington liked it,
since it did very we'll to smoke a CT
gar by. Mrs. Boddington liked it, be-
cause no one could be expected to do
anything either in the way Of work or
reading by so dim light So they all
agreed to postpone the lighting Of the
lamps as long as possible. Then, as
they SAT- thus, Mrs. Boddington spoke
from her easy chair.
"Oh! I've been to call on those Lillys
to-day. and I've found out a lot about
the children's governess. I should new
J.
fore''
Shouldn't you?" said her husband.
Articulation was rendered somewhat
difficult and inconvenient to Mr. Bod
dinston by reason of his having his CT
gar between his teeth. Nevertheless
after a pause he was moved to inquire
further: why not?'
oh. well, all her relations entirely
disapprove Of her teaching at all I
was not aware. The family is quite
respectable, it appears"
But, surely, my dear Jane" sair Mr..
Warren, from his place near the win
dow where he sat, with Nip at his feet
making black patch Of shadow in q
silver path OF moonlight, "since you did
not clearly and expressly stipulate for
a governess Of disreputable connections,
you have only yourself to blame 1
dare say Mrs. Jack Lilly would have
confessed that she belongs to decent
people at once if you had asked her"
ooh! 1 know your sarcastic way,
Robert" returned his sister. blandly,
"but that doesn't alter the facts, you
know"
And the facts are-?"
The truth is that this person is very
headstrong and Eighty. She is rather
designing. too. She Unanswered her
self into the Lilly family. Their eldest
son might have done better. She was
The daughter of half-pay naval Of
fer. and had not penny. 1t was yerv
disagreeable for the Lillys' and now
she won't take anybody's advice. She
is so very extravagant that she can't
live on her income, and she is furious
because Mr.. Lilly would not allow her
thousands to squander. and tries to
spite the family by turning governess.
l was quite astonished when I heard
it ALL" said Mrs. Boddington, winding
up her speech, which she had delivered
with great suavity from beginning to
end
"Well, you might bew exclaimed her
brother.
Mrs. Boddington settled herself more
comfortably among her cushions and
stretched out her feet before proceed
ing. II don't know whether it's right
to go on employing her, really. She
has such a character in the town."
What do you mean, Jane?" demand
ed Mr.. Warren, in so sudden and stern
a manner that his sister started. "Why
are you joining in an attack of this kind
against defenseless woman who has
never offended or injured you in the
slightest degree?''
Mr.. Boddington was heard to MUIR
muir that he thought the young govern
ess very jolly kind of woman and I'M
commonly pretty.
ooh! pretty? Yes, she's pretty enough;
and she has such craving for admira-
ton that she will accept it from any
body. She is always playing off her
airs upon some man or other. She
can't live without it: Why, just fancy,
there's a common workingman who
lodges in the same house with her who
is quite desperate about her. He is q
common printer, and she leads him on
and bamboozles him. And there is a
young man in lawyers Office here
Muggins. think, or some such name
he is called whom she fiirts with out
rageously. She can never rest without
trying to set up filtration with every
man she sees. She doesn't care who It
may be; old or young, it's all the same
to her. don't think that kind of thing
isia good example for the children"
Mr.. Warren got up, and walked out
into the garden, rising 80 abruptly