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the flowers,
and Lucia more than once recalled, with pardonable vanity, that the governess
had compared her to her lovely mother, expressing by a look as much admiration
for the living likeness as for the painted one. All kindly did their best to
make the pale girl feel at home, and their cordial manner seemed to warm and
draw her out; for soon she put off her sad, meek air and entertained them with
gay anecdotes of her life in Paris, her travels in Russia when governess in
Prince Jermadoff's family, and all manner of witty stories that kept them
interested and merry long after the meal was over. In the middle of an
absorbing adventure, Coventry came in, nodded lazily, lifted his brows, as if surprised at seeing the
governess there, and began his breakfast as if the ennui of another day had
already taken possession of him. Miss Muir stopped short, and no entreaties
could induce her to go on.
"Another time I will finish it, if you like. Now Miss
Bella and I should be at our books." And she left the room,
followed by her pupil, taking no notice of the young master of the house,
beyond a graceful bow in answer to his careless nod.
"Merciful creature! she goes when I come, and does not make life unendurable by moping about before my
eyes. Does she belong to the moral, the melancholy, the romantic, or the
dashing class, Ned?" said Gerald, lounging over his coffee as he did over
everything he attempted.
"To none of them; she is a capital little woman. I wish you had seen her
tame Hector this morning." And Edward repeated his story.
"Not a bad move on her part," said Coventry in reply. "She must be an observing as
well as an energetic young person, to discover your chief weakness and attack
it so soon. First tame the horse, and then the master. It will be amusing to
watch the game, only I shall be under the painful necessity of checkmating you
both, if it gets serious."
"You needn't exert yourself, old fellow, on my account. If I was not above
thinking ill of an inoffensive girl, I should say you were the prize best worth
winning, and advise you to take care of your own heart, if you've got one,
which I rather doubt."
"I often doubt it, myself; but I fancy the little Scotchwoman will not be
able to satisfy either of us upon that point. How does your highness like
her?" asked Coventry of his cousin, who sat near him.
"Better than I thought I should. She is well-bred, unassuming, and very
entertaining when she likes. She has told us some of the wittiest stories I've
heard for a long time. Didn't our laughter wake you?" replied Lucia.
"Yes. Now atone for it by amusing me with a repetition of these witty
tales."
"That is impossible; her accent and manner are half the charm," said
Ned. "I wish you had kept away ten minutes longer, for your appearance
spoilt the best story of all."
"Why didn't she go on?" asked Coventry , with a ray of curiosity.
"You forget that she overheard us last night, and must feel that you
consider her a bore. She has pride, and no woman forgets speeches like those
you made," answered Lucia.
"Or forgives them, either, I believe. Well, I must be resigned to languish
under her displeasure then. On Sydney 's account I take a slight interest in her;
not that I expect to learn anything from her, for a woman with a mouth like
that never confides or confesses anything. But I have a fancy to see what
captivated him; for captivated he was, beyond a doubt, and
and Lucia more than once recalled, with pardonable vanity, that the governess
had compared her to her lovely mother, expressing by a look as much admiration
for the living likeness as for the painted one. All kindly did their best to
make the pale girl feel at home, and their cordial manner seemed to warm and
draw her out; for soon she put off her sad, meek air and entertained them with
gay anecdotes of her life in Paris, her travels in Russia when governess in
Prince Jermadoff's family, and all manner of witty stories that kept them
interested and merry long after the meal was over. In the middle of an
absorbing adventure, Coventry came in, nodded lazily, lifted his brows, as if surprised at seeing the
governess there, and began his breakfast as if the ennui of another day had
already taken possession of him. Miss Muir stopped short, and no entreaties
could induce her to go on.
"Another time I will finish it, if you like. Now Miss
Bella and I should be at our books." And she left the room,
followed by her pupil, taking no notice of the young master of the house,
beyond a graceful bow in answer to his careless nod.
"Merciful creature! she goes when I come, and does not make life unendurable by moping about before my
eyes. Does she belong to the moral, the melancholy, the romantic, or the
dashing class, Ned?" said Gerald, lounging over his coffee as he did over
everything he attempted.
"To none of them; she is a capital little woman. I wish you had seen her
tame Hector this morning." And Edward repeated his story.
"Not a bad move on her part," said Coventry in reply. "She must be an observing as
well as an energetic young person, to discover your chief weakness and attack
it so soon. First tame the horse, and then the master. It will be amusing to
watch the game, only I shall be under the painful necessity of checkmating you
both, if it gets serious."
"You needn't exert yourself, old fellow, on my account. If I was not above
thinking ill of an inoffensive girl, I should say you were the prize best worth
winning, and advise you to take care of your own heart, if you've got one,
which I rather doubt."
"I often doubt it, myself; but I fancy the little Scotchwoman will not be
able to satisfy either of us upon that point. How does your highness like
her?" asked Coventry of his cousin, who sat near him.
"Better than I thought I should. She is well-bred, unassuming, and very
entertaining when she likes. She has told us some of the wittiest stories I've
heard for a long time. Didn't our laughter wake you?" replied Lucia.
"Yes. Now atone for it by amusing me with a repetition of these witty
tales."
"That is impossible; her accent and manner are half the charm," said
Ned. "I wish you had kept away ten minutes longer, for your appearance
spoilt the best story of all."
"Why didn't she go on?" asked Coventry , with a ray of curiosity.
"You forget that she overheard us last night, and must feel that you
consider her a bore. She has pride, and no woman forgets speeches like those
you made," answered Lucia.
"Or forgives them, either, I believe. Well, I must be resigned to languish
under her displeasure then. On Sydney 's account I take a slight interest in her;
not that I expect to learn anything from her, for a woman with a mouth like
that never confides or confesses anything. But I have a fancy to see what
captivated him; for captivated he was, beyond a doubt, and
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