My Mother's Rival / Everyday Life Library No. 4

einhart had acquired in Tayne Hall. One or two domestic matters had gone wrong-nothing very much, but dinner was late several times,

ook after her," he sa

rt responde

" she explained. "Your housekeeper is too old; y

e was my mother's housekeeper long before I was born.

away, I said before; yo

he has very peculiar ideas on that poin

re, always the best-but I should have thought, considering the very nervous state that Lady Tayne al

for a few moments,

it would seem like taking an unfa

hart blus

hat I thought of such a thing! I assure you I am quit

father hardly knew how to reassure her. She explained and pro

in want of some kind of moral support when he took my hand and sa

but I, who knew every look and trick of my mother's face, saw how deeply pained she was. She never attempted to interrupt him, but when he had finished speaking-having passed over very lightly indeed the little dom

literally break my heart; think what

"she is too old-too old, Miss Rei

a moment'

ear, gentle tones I knew so well; "but then, Roland, w

he himself was quite unconscious how or to w

noticed the little disasters and failures. She i

tached and faithful old servant like Mrs. E

d be more efficient of the

at would be better. You see, Roland, I am so accustomed to her, she knows all my ways, and s

ranger would never come

o sit with me in the dead of night, and we can talk about old times, even before you were born. She tells me about

rling. If you do not decidedly

ce down to hers

uch for my sake. I know that you will not mind a little i

id Sir Roland; but I, who know every play of his

t Lady Tayne did not wish to change; she was attached to the old housekeeper, and

excellent, economical managing woman, who is competent in every way to undertake the situation. Still, if I cannot serve you in one way, ca

Tayne. She cannot possibly help it, and it distresses her. Not that there is mu

rmission," she said, "

am very grateful to you indeed. Perhaps you wil

to the rule of my governess. No woman on earth ever played her cards so skillfully as Miss Reinhart. She did

Miss Reinhart only interfered with the minor arrangements. She made little alterations, all of which were conducive to my father's comfort, and he was very grat

a farce. Miss Reinhart was valiant, but Mrs. Eastwood was more valiant still. The whole household ranged itself o

d not. Before long the rival powers came into collisio

would be more convenient and suitable to Sir Roland if it were an hour later. The housekeeper said that

t was the duty of th

her orders from the master and mistress of the house,

ognize mine, Mrs. Eastwood, i

eper, trembling with indignation, which was exa

passive manner. "It has nothing whatever to do with me. Sir Roland wishes me

way, or seek to turn me away?" she said. "I have never wronged you. You may get one more clever, but no one who wi

ed coldly. "I will tell Sir Roland that y

. I have no wish to leave the place and family I love so

ust as you wish," she said;

t real experience in the real deceit of the world. Repeated to him, it bore quite a different as

urself, I would not have b

looking, in her exquisite morning dress

household seemed to be ranged one against the other. If the housekeeper said one thing, Miss Reinhart at once said th

ather, "until you have pensioned that old houseke

e familiar to him. I am quite sure that Miss Reinhart had made this her test; that she had said to herself-if she ha

d he should allow her a sufficient income to live upon. She could come to the Abbey when she liked to call on my mother, and might be as happy as possi

d. But when he added that Miss Reinhart thought it the best