Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-04-16
CHAPTER XIII.
In the Railway Carriage.

arms at the very idea of accepting Lady
Esler's hospitality, but Miss Joyce in.
sisted upon it that she must consider
the offer as very kindly made. And she
gave the piece of information which
Lady Esler had meant to lay great
stress on, although Madeline had not
stayed to hear it. Your father, my
dear, has come back
my father? Oh, where has he b. emp
81 am sure I could not say" answered
Miss Joyce, primly shutting up her lips,
''but he is in London and he has pro-
duced the documents which establish
the fact that you are Gen. Armstrong;
granddaughter and, therefore, Lady
Eslers great-niece."
"She knew that before"
mo, my dear, she did not know it
she had had no means of ascertaining
the truth and you could not expect her
to act on a mere rumor."
IF she had been a kind, good woman
she would have acted quickly enough, "
said Madeline, with a flush. "She
would have seen me-she would have
investigated-she would have prevented
your having any trouble. l hope, at
least, that she thanked you for your
kindness to me. Perhaps she even"
you need not go on, Madeline" said
Miss Joyce. Anything that your
family might offer to me l should feel
it my duty to decline. After the very
first year of your stay with me you be-
gan to make yourself useful. For the
last three years you have been, | may
say, indispensable. I have every reason
left on my hands, as | may say, in Sc
unceremoniOus manner"
She was very much surprised at the
conclusion of this speech to find Made
line on her knees beside her, with her
arms round Miss Joyce's own stately
neck and her kisses and tears on Miss
JOyces placid face But after the first
shock the schoolmistress was by nc
means displeased. She returned Made,
hines kiss benignly and patted her on
the shoulder.
Il am so glad was afraid l had
been such great trouble to you-I ann
SO glad if | have been little USE"
IF you are glad my dear" said Miss
Joyce, adroitly, you will do what ask
you and go to Hurst"
After this it seemed impossible to
Madeline to refuse.
II suppose [ must CO." she said, WHIP
ing the tears away from her eyes. But
[ shall be very unhappy and I shall
long for the time when / can get back
TO you"
II shall be glad to see you again, but
| quite expect to hear that you have
enjoyed yourself very much. You will
meet your old friend, Lady Frances Ayl-
mer, perhaps; and Miss Constance Es-
Ter"
= 81 have not heard so. Somebody
spoke to me about her lately, by the
way; there was a possible marriage
mentioned with a Vanbrugh, 1 be-
hev~ whom you met at Mrs. Gervase's."
M~deline's lips frightened, a strange
pain seemed to stab her heart.
: Il don't fancy that is likely" she
said, in a low voice.
MY dear, how can you possibly tell?
dare say you will have a pleasant time
and l have no doubt that you will not
mind performing the few little duties
that Lady Esler wants of you"
"Duties?"
Just little things-to read to her
sometimes, to play accomplishments, to
arrange the flowers"
Il see" said Madeline, with her lip
curling; ito be a companion, without
pay"
She is sure to be liberal, my dear.
You must not speak in that way. And
l wanted to say that if you come back
to me-and I very much doubt your
coming back at ALL should wish to
give you salary suited to your attain
nrents and merits. Of course you are
young; I thought of ECO a year to be-
gin with"
Am l worth all that?" said Madeline
naively Il shall be pleased, indeed, to
feel that l am earning some money for
myself"
'-You will want a new dress or two
before you CO."
Indeed I shall not. You shall not
get me anything new, Miss Joyce.
Think am going as the poor relation.
the unpaid companion, the shabby
hanger-on' she laughed as she spoke
land it really won't do for me to be
too fine | have my cotton frocks for
the morning and the pretty delaine you
got me for Mrs. Gervase's garden party
and a Sunday frock-and an evening
dress as well. | shall do splendidly."
"Humph," said Miss Joyce. and said
nothing more, but she was secretly con-
templating the possibility of a good out
fit for Madeline before she went TO
Hurst. She never did things by halves
and she had grown fond of Madeline.
There were only three days to spare.
Miss Joyce did wonders in the time.
And Madeline, in her simplicity, was
amazed 70 find herself the possessor of
two evening dresses, besides the one
which she owned already, and of a
simply made afternoon" dress Of en-
broSdered muslin which Miss joyce
recommended her to keep for garden
parties" and entertainments of that
kind, besides various little novelties in
the way ofsshoes and gloves. and ribbons
which Madeline had never been able to
buy for herself
I won't have them say you look like
q pauper when T have The TURNING of