Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-05-26
Continued.

looking forward eagerly to the di-
version of seeing some one really new
and not an inhabitant of Rilchester.
Claude had already arrived when
she came down, and was standing
talking to the dean having quite lost
the somewhat preoccupied expression
he had worn in the cathedral.
The dean gravely introduced my
niece, Mademoiselle de Mabillon"-he
always uttered the name with an
effort-and Claude's easy but cour-
teous manners seemed all the more
pleasant when contrasted with her
uncle's pompous solemnity.
81 am afraid you were one of those
whom I disturbed this morning in the
cathedral" he said. "I hope you will
forgive me for the confusion I made
was it very distracting?"
Esperance's first impulse was to ut
ter the false ooh! not at ALL" a form
OF polite lying proverbially habitual
to French women, and not unfreQuent-
~ INDUCED in by their English sisters.
She had, however, been brought up
very carefully in this respect by her
father, her standard u truth was high,
and with ready tact she said instead
81 do not think it disturbed the con-
gregation generally, for myself, 7 can
not say much, it takes such small
thing to draw off my attention"
II had no idea there was any rule
as to not painting during service time,
so I hope my ignorance may be my ex-
cuse," said Claude, turning to the
dean.
"Oh, don's mention it, pray: it is of
no consequence. We find we must
have rule of the kind, but Of course
you could not be expected to know.
You find your subject Interestingly"
Indeed I do" replied Claude, earn
estly. cts only fault is, that every
part of it is so marvellous, one hardly
dares to attempt it. 7 went in at
half past six this morning, but it was
some time before 7 could settle to
work, everything was looking so ex-
uuisite."
I'VE never saw your picture this
morning" said Esperance "Was It
hurt in that downfall?"
mo: luckily 1t was not much dam
aged. It was the easel which made all
The noise."'
Mrs. Mortlake and Corne1ia entered
while he was speaking. the former
with MANY APOLOGIES for her Iateness.
and Immediately after dinner was an
nounced
The conversation was much more
lively than usual and Esnerance was
able to enter into it Thoroughly: her
English was much improved by the
three months she had snent at Ril-
chester. and her slight French accent
was rather pretty than otherwise
Mrs Wort1ake however did not al
together apnrove Of this advance in
KNOWLEDGE. for although she could not
accuse Esperance of forwardness, vet
there was certainly something in her
lively chatter which was ant to swami
other conversation. The dean would
often stop to listen to her-the voice
reminded him of his sisters. and he
liked to hear it-Corne1ia was always
on The watch for grammatical mis-
takes in her pupil and Bertha. who
disliked the exeriion Of talking.
thought herself exempted from It If
any one else sustained the converse
ton
Mrs. Mortlake herself was a good
solid talker, and she liked to have an
open field for her operations, so Es-
perance's little Eighty remarks, and
her clear, ringing laugh annoyed her:
and when she found Claude Magnay
much more inclined to talk to the
bright little French girl than to enter
into the conversation which she had
carefully prepared beforehand on the
Renaissance, she resolved to put a
stop to 1t a once.
Claude had Just said that he had
studied chiefly at Paris, and Esper-
ance, with a look of delight, was
pouring out a stream of eager ques-
tons. Whereabouts had he lived
Did he not like Paris? Was it not
the most beautiful city of Europe?
When was he last there? He had not
been in France during the war, then
As If to provoke Mrs. Mortlake still
further, Claude seemed to catch some
thing of Esperance's enthusiasm, for
his replies were as animated as her
questions, and it was evident that if
they were not interrupted the Renais-
sance would be quite neglected.
You were at Paris all through the
siege, did you say?" Claude was ask
ing
And Esperance had just begun her
answer when Mrs. Mortlake broke in
oh, really Esperance, you must
not take Mr.. Magnay all through that
drearful siege: we have heard quite
enough OF 1t, and the dinner-table is
not the place for horrors"
Claude Magnay was surprised, ant
glanced at Esperance as If for an ex
PLANTATION. She had flushed all over
and her lips were quivering; he wa
sorry for her. and would have tried I,
turn Mrs. Mortlake's uncomfortable
speech to some different meaning, bu
she was too quick forhim, and tn
next moment the conversation was en-
tirely in her hands.
Il was wanting so much to ask yol
If you had seen that magnificent al
tar-piece of Perugino's in the Churc
OF st. Peter, Perugia. You were /
Italy last winter, were you not?"
"hprpnnnn