Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-01-18
CHAPTER XVIII

Il hear, said Lord Vivian to Lady
Beatrice, as they sat after dinner in the
golden gleam of the June sunset, II hear
that your new governess is something
wonderful
Indeed, l am sorry to hear it. l do
not like wonders myself"
Suddenly Lord Vivian remembered that
if he wished to do good for the newcomer
he must propitiate, and not offend his
wife. He made some Laughing, compli-
mentary reply, at which her eyes bright
eneG and her face glowed.
Il was thinking" he continued, "that
il this Mrs. Rivers is what they say. a
refined gentlewoman, we might make
some few additions to the comfort Of the
cottage"
IF you wish it." replied his wife, still
under the influence Of that compliment.
You might send a good selection Of
books" he continued: I'VE have such a
superabundance; picture or two. and a
stand Of flowers: two or three nice pieces
Of furniture. and anything else that you
think of. Teaching must be q tiresome
occupation; let her have plenty of bright
ness in her life out of school,"
Those kind of people-teachers, gov.
ernesses and tutors-are not like u.s." said
Lady Beatrice, with supreme hauteur;
{ they make what you call brightness out
of such materials as we pass over alto
gether."
VERY probably. You will do as l sug-
gest, BeatriceY said Lord Vivian. You
might occasionally send fruit and game
down to the cottage"
II WILL" she replied.
Lady Beatrice did everything well She
sent Tor workmen on the following day,
and ordered pretty, gay papers for the
little rooms; she ordered nice carpets for
the floors, q cozy easy chair and a couch;
she ordered q bookcase for the bright,
pleasant parlor, and then went over the
rooms to make q selection Of books. She
found several in the library bearing the
name of Violante Temple. She did not
care to take them all, but one. a very
beautiful edition Of Wordsworth's poems.
especially attracted her. 1t was nicely
bound, and the illustrations were magnifi-
cent. On the title page was written:
ITO my dearest Violante, from her de-
voted husband, Vivian Selwyn."
She flung the book far from her; she
was Jealous Of the dead, as she had been
of the living.
II believe" she said. in her anger,
that he values everything that woman
ever owned"
Then she took the book from the floor,
and placed it with the others.
1T shall go to the schoolmistress." she
said. "I only wish my dearest Violante'
knew its destination"
And when the little cottage was arranS-
ed there was no more pretty or cozy home
in all England. The rooms were all SO
cheerful and bright, with flowers peeping
in at the windows. Mrs. Rivers thought.
when she entered it, that she had never
seen a prettier little home.
You see, Mrs. Rivers" said Dr.
Hearue. that we are fortunate in secur-
ing the services of lady like yourself
you, also, are fortunate in being under
the care of people so kind and consider
ate as Lord and Lady Selwyn."
He did not see the shiver that passed
over her-the passionate grief and an
guish that for one moment completely
changed her face.
Lady SeIwyn has sent you books and
flowers" ne continued; "she will probably
drive over to see that you have every
thing as .7ou wish it to be"
She thanked him in few faint words
he did not observe how faint they were.
The gentle face, the sweet eyes and
sweet lips so charmed the rector that
when he once beSnn to talk to Mrs. Rivers
he always felt some difficulty in Knowing
| when to stop.
DIR. Hearne," she asked. ARE there
, any children at the Hall!
No" he replied: and for one moment
the pallor of death overspread her race.
, .There are no children he continued
"but there is one boy; the hnest N''ie
| fellow in England"
A light, like the golden gleam OF June
sunset, came into her eyes.
Lord vivian.s heir, l presumeF sne
| said.
"Yes. Lord vivian's heir; and nobiei
child ! have never seen. He is as goou
| as he is handsome, and that is saying
something"
His own mother" she faltered, then
stopped.
/ His own mother IL dead, said tne
: rector. Rupert is like her. knew rne
late Lady Seiwyn. but not intimately. Sne