Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-12-17
CHAPTER VIII


High up was the chamber of the two
Misses Foster; for the dwelling was not
a mansion of unlimited space, and this
large upper chamber was very capable
of containing two beds and two young
ladies, even with the almost constant ad'
dition of very diminutiye French maid.
And though a tiny room adJoined IT,
which Miss Foster called her dressing
room, it inclosed her graceful form but
seldom; for the advantage of younger
sisters unfailing attention and acute sug'
gestions overbalanced any of those objec-
I tons which Genevieve Foster would 9TH
erwise have urged against sharing any
ones apartment.
On this evening Lucette had been dis
missed unusually early, and Miss Foster
was herself putting the finishing touches
to her toilet, while her sister stood
thoughtfully weighing the relative merits
of pink and blue, before selecting accou-
terments for her crisp white grenadine.
Il should not WONDER" she pondered
aloud, IF mamma does not begin at once
TO make much of her, just as if she were
a guest. Mamma is so uncertain that |
! can never feel sure of her."
But she listens to reason observed
the elder sister, as she put in her emerald
earrings; land we have had a sensible
talk together about Miss st. George. She
is no relative of ours, and no guest-not
even an acquaintance. She is here for q
special purpose, and she must be left
to pursue that purpose conscientiously
1t is, indeed, for her sake that l have
urged mamma to let her continue heI
studies undisturbed."
For her sake, of course; and, indeed
for mammals, too" observed Victoria
Foster. Mamma would be the very last
| in the world to wish for another grown
up daughter"
IAN awkward, uneducated daughter
| too" put in the elder sister, complacently
who will have no idea of the very com
| mOnest usages of good society. Pooh
! Mamma has too much regard for heI
/ own reputation
II don't at all agree with Will about
| Miss st. Georges beauty" said Victoria
presently. Certainly l saw her only fol-
/ minute, but | think her style will not
be taking in London"
"Takingn' echoed Miss Foster, with the
| calIpest contempt. WHO is it to takei
! The girl will be at her lessons. If heI
I beauty smites Miss Archer, all the bet.
ter; but who else can it smiteY
"Will. He is coming this evening. you
know; and he seemed so anxious about
seeing her that perhaps he will be com
ing often"
will is wiser than you imagine" re-
joi2ed the elder sister. He is not one
to marry on an income of three hundred
pounds year. You are goose, Tory
Fasten this bracelet for me-"
Thus the two girls stood facing each
other before the toilet table when their
mother entered the room; and she smiled
as she saw the profles reflected in the
glass-both fair and correct, with fea-
lures unmarried by any eccentricity of
character, and pale blue eyes, the fire of
which could never hurt the large, white
lids. 1t was quite excusable in Mrs. Fos-
ter to be proud of her stylish daughters.
That her grandfather should have be-
Queathed Genevieve a yearly income of
two hundred pounds for pocket money,
seemed to the mother most natural pro-
ceeding, considering how prettily Gene
We've always received the old man; but
Mrs. Foster was totally unconscious of
Genevieve's having usurped the foremost
place in her kindly, tickle heart.
well, mother" Miss Foster said, Il
suppose Nora st. George is still lying
down. You will leave her to do so, OF
course"
she did not lie down at all, my dear, -
returned Mrs. Foster. "She has been
unpacking, and. ROW she is with Miss Ar
cher in the school ROOM"
Why did not Miss Archer so home
this afternoon, as USUALLY
Il thought it WISER" explained Mrs
Foster, "and, indeed, knder"-with a
timid air of deprecation-'t keep her
this evening. Miss St. George would
have felt so very lonely, as Tory would
not consent to dine early and stay with
her. l wish, even now, that you would
stay with her, Tory"
NONSENSE exclaimed Victoria. with
quiet contempt. Am | to be made Il
school girl just to please this utter stran-
ger, for whom we have done a great deal
too much already in allowing her to come
here at allE
But you are a school girl, Tory" re-
marked her mother. If you were not,
why should Miss Archer and your mas
tiers come every day to teach you? |
hope, my dear, that you will see the kind
ness of what propose, and go and take
tea with Miss Archer and your new COM
rade"
NO, indeed, mamma" said the young
lady, hotly; Il will not be put down in
this way for an interloper. | told you l
must dine with you to-day: indeed, |
shall do it every day now. What have |
n common with this Irish grip
Then you refuse to do as l ask you p
inquired the mother, rising, with a sigh.
Certainly do. Even you," added Vie
toria, automatically, would be sorry
yourself afterward, and ashamed, too,
Tor behaving so to a daughter of seven
teen. Gena knows very well that / am
as grown-up looking as she is, and that
ought to do exactly as she does"
You shall do it after to-day, if You
viii just keep Nora company on this oc-
caSiOu. She looks so very strange and
lonely. WIZ your
No, mammal; so do not ask me any
more. l hate 10 refuse YOU
Rather slowly and unwilliugly Mrs.
Foster entered the school room-a small,
dull apartment in the back of the hall
anu 50 All NAc>>tNA upon -N0tA GudG dAEtE
the fatigue Of her long journey it would
be cruel to ask her to dine with them,
that Nora felt that a dinner in London
must be 4 long and veariSome ordeal,
from which WINS mother had most kind
ly released her.
Il shall be very glad Of tea she said,
when she and the quiet governess, with
the tired eyes, were left together again.
Il am very hungry; are you. Miss Ar
cher?"
Only rather" replied Helen Archer
with a smile for the friendly, bright
faced girl who was so fresh after her long
journey. and 50 unsubdued Ia this subja-
eating household; Il have not had jour
ney. rs you have had"
Il hope yen live here always" said
Nora. in her pretty, eoaxing voice
No, Miss Archer answered; Il come
every morning and go away at O'clock
l never before stayed even 50 late as
this. Tonight the footman is 10 see me
home NJ 10"