Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-08-25

take her up TO the nursery; but thi
was against Mrs. Mortlake's rules
and Miss Bella's two hours down
stairs were apt to make visitors beat :;
hasty retreat to their bedrooms.
She screamed On without the small
est diminuendo for some minutes, anC
> Esperance sat down despairingIy witt
her hands clasped over her forehead
half distracted by the double noise O.
crying and singing.
On and on it went like some fright
! full nightmare.
But men must work and women
must weep from Miss Lowdell.
! Roar, roar-from Bella.
! Though storms be sudden and
waters deep
Ooh. hoo! ooh. hoo. hate
you!" from the corner.
Why must people sing those fright
ful sea-songs-on this day. of all
others? And, oh! why would Bella
scream so numerically? The physi-
cal and mental pain together were al
most maddening.
Just as Mss Lowdell left the draw
ing-room, Mrs. Mortlake came back.
vexed at hearing Bella's screams.
What is the matter? Things al
ways go wrong if l leave the room Ior
a minute. Come to me, my precious;
what is it them"
Bella could not speak for sobbing.
but by degrees Mrs. Mortlake caught
the words, Il hate her." and "choco-
late intermiXed with the bowling.
You always do manage to irritate
the poor child, Esperance; of course
she may have some chocolate if she
likes. You really are most provoking;
she has been as good as possible with
me, and now you have upset her
Why was she in the corner?"
"She was very inattentive and
rude" said poor Esperance, looking
down.
Rude, indeed! it is, your ridiculous
pride which is SO ready to take offense;
she is never rude to any one else, ana
I'm not going to have your French
system of punishments brought in;
please remember, no one Furnishes
Bella but myself. Nothing tends
more to make a child deceitful than
constant punishment; your national
characteristic is quite accounted for
Then, as Esperance would have be
gun an indignant remonstrance:
mo, no, I will not have argu-
ing before Bella; you have wasted
quite cough Of my time already; tn
best thing you can do now is to leave
the room, for the child can't bear the
sight of you. I wish, instead of Sit
ting up at night burning other peoples
candles, you would learn to make
yourself useful by day. You think so
much Of French manners; but for my
part"
Mrs. Mortlake broke off in dismay,
for looking round she saw Gaspard
standing in the doorway, and from
the expression IF his face, she knew
he must have heard most of her angry
speech.
Esperance turned, too, and with a
cry of relief ran to him.
"Gaspard! Gaspard!" and she chung
to him as if for protection.
He put his arm around her holding
her closely, deaf to all Mrs. Mortlake's
greetings, and only growing more and
more angry as he felt how Esperanc
was trembling. AS soon as he could
trust himself to speak he turned upon
Mrs. Mortlake, but Christabel, with an
instructive dread of what was coming,
tried to intercept his speech.
'Good-morning; you are later than
usual to-day; have you come to take
Esperance for a walk?"
Her cool, clear voice so angered him
that he dared not speak to her. He
just bowed an assent.
Christabel fairly trembled before
that calm, dignified anger, and she
never forgot Gaspard's look-the
clear, unfiinching eyes. proud. sensi-
tive mouth, and the whole face rigid
with repressed Indignation. She gave
sigh of relief when he turned away,
and led Esperance from the room.
When they had reached Cornelia's
study, however, ESpefaDce nad fecOV-
cred herself; and. indeed, though un-
able to help a feeling of relief in hav-
ing Gaspard for a protector, she was
very sorry that he had heard one Of
Mrs. Mortlake's scoldings; and tired
out as she was she reused herself,
trying to talk lightly of the morn
ing's occurrences. and to laugh him
out Of his anger.
To be Continued.