Norton, Andre - Novel 39 Read Online Free

teach
watercolor?'
                   "To this list of talents I was forced to
answer no, and she gave a sigh that was one of relief as she settled back again
among her cushions . ' You are hardly an acceptable
governess, Miss Lane .'
                   "If Lady Ames had expected some plea from
me (in spite of that touch of fear), she was disappointed.
                   "'You may stay the week,'" I had
jotted in my ledger— her words were not the kind that were easily forgotten.
                   "The Brougher girls are to be sent to a
school in Switzerland . Luckily I foresaw something of this
present situation and have approached Miss Cantry, their present governess. But,
of course, I shall provide for you."'
                   Hester scowled, and flipped the next three
pages over together.
                   "The Miss Cantry of Lady Ames's choice
did not appear within the week as looked for. Thus I was given respite for
another week, during which I strove to prepare Hazel, as best I could, for her
place in life. She was sent for several times, to accompany Lady Ames on her
daily ride in the park, returning each time with either a scowl on her face or
reddened eyes that were the result of an outburst of tears.
                   "She did not confide in me, and I did not
ask any questions. Though once she inquired if it were true that 'ladies' were
wrong in throwing a penny to the boy who swept the crossing outside.
                   "Knowing her grandmother would strongly
disapprove, but not wishing to pass judgment upon her selfish snobbery, I
thought it best to keep silent.
                   "'You cannot tell me!' Hazel crossed the
room and gave a vigorous tug to the bell ribbon. Then she took her small net
purse to the table and turned it upside down, allowing its contents, including
several shilling pieces, to spin across the table's crimson velvet cover.
Swiftly she separated them.
                   "The door opened for the young kitchen
maid, Kitty, with my tea, unappetizing hunks of bread spread with dubious butter,
and a pot already half chilled because of the long walk the bearer had had, up
from the kitchen. But Kitty winked at me as she set down the tray and whisked
off the cover. The chunks of bread were enriched by a delectable-looking pair
of muffins. She grinned.
                   'Them's prime, miss. Cook put aside a basket
of them for her friend the constable. It's Old Riggs with her smarmy orders as
gits you such rotten stuff! She's—'
                   'Miller, what are you doing here?' Miss
Riggs's voice came from the hall outside so often I had reason to believe she
listened whenever Hazel and I were together. But it was Hazel who answered her
now.
                   'Kitty is going to run an errand for me,
Riggs!' The beginning of hauteur touched her—a legacy from her grandmother. It
made the woman stare at her somewhat bemused. She had certainly never seen that
aspect of my charge before.
                   "'One of the footmen,' said Riggs, who
might have been rocked for an instant but was now steady once more, 'would be
suitable for messages, Miss Hazel, and my lady would want to know all about
it.'
                   Hazel snatched up the unwholesome-looking
plate of bread chunks and thrust it at Kitty. ' Give
this to the little boy—the one at the street corner. I think he must be very
hungry.'
                   Kitty bobbed a curtsy. ' Yes,
miss.'
                   She fled the room while Riggs walked quickly
to the window. But the gathering darkness did not yet have the street lamp to
cut it.
                   'Miss Hazel, 'tis my bonded duty to tell Her
Ladyship of this—' She drew such a deep breath that I was sure it reached clear
to the shoes hidden beneath her skirts.
                   'Yes, Riggs.'