The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story

hbors had taken their departure; and the ladi

ked at her daughter's door. "I want to

mma. Co

be placed in an armchair, Mrs. Linley was meditating on the events of the evening. "This has been the most successful party we

. Presty answered, severely. "I had a higher opini

maller bed-chamber. "Not quite so loud," she answered, "or you might w

leave to return to the subj

which you might have noticed when she left the drawing-room this evening. She had a

hing. "Black as thunder? Poor little Sydney, what a ridiculous

ught much of your intelligence. He appears to have been wrong; you have evidently inherited some of my sense of humor. Howeve

the occasion, however, Mrs. Presty's face assumed an expression of innocent amazement, which would have produced a round of applause

, that you have said to Herber

vening. He was excessively rude. He said: 'Tell Mrs. MacEdwi

nt, without her mother's eye for dramatic effect.

overness has entirely failed to make the children like her. A dreadful temper; I have given her notice to leave my service. Look at that sweet girl and your little granddaughter! I declare I could cry when I see how they understand each other and love each other.' I quote our charming friend's nonsense, verbatim (as we used to say when we were in

o this. "I shall certainly not think over what cann

Perhaps the excitement of the party has been too much for your nerves. Try to

erate to disturb me, when his friends keep him up late," she said. "On those

very comfortable-looking bed," she remarked, in a tone intended

Sydney's room. She suddenly stopped; the door was no

e. No sound like the breathing of a person asleep was to be heard. A strict sense of duty conducted Mrs. Presty next into the room, and even

ed the list of vices and crimes which a governess might commit, who had retired before eleven o'clock, and was not in her bedroom at twelve. On further reflection, it ap

e was nothing to se

Miss Wes

she had been bold enough to join the party

orced her to act with caution. In the suggestive retirement of her own room, she arrived at a wise and wary decision. Opening her door by a few inches, she placed a chair behind the opening in a position which commanded a view of Sydney's room. Wherever the governess might be, her return to her bed-chamber, before the servants were astir in the morning, was a chance to be counted on. The night-lam

be thoroughly weary of talking politic

r's second-hand opinions. In plain terms, they stated the matter in dispute: "Which of our political parties deserves the confidence of the English people?" In plain terms, on his sides Randal answered: "The party that lowers the taxes." Those words acted on the discussion like water on a fire. As members of Parliament, the two

through the evening, was as ill at ease as ever. Lingering, wakeful and irritable, in the corridor (just as S

leave it to me." Still lingering at the top of the steps, he too was tempted by the refreshing coolness of the air. He took the