The Mysterious Howling Read Online Free

was done, Mrs. Clarke glanced nervously at Penelope and then back to her mistress.
    â€œOf course, my lady, I will see to—the dogs—at once.” Then she left.
    Lady Constance walked slowly back to her seat, lowered herself carefully, and heaved a most unladylike sigh. Her golden, delicately curved eyebrows frowned in deepest concentration as she glared at the carpet.
    Recall that it was Penelope’s first job interview; there was nothing for her to compare the experience to except a historical account she had once read describing the interrogation of military prisoners during theNapoleonic Wars. This hardly seemed relevant. However, the look on Lady Constance’s face had grown quite serious, and Penelope guessed that the pleasantries must now be over.
    She took a deep breath and braced herself to answer probing questions about her literary and scientific knowledge, her skill at mathematics, penmanship, and musical composition, her grasp of geography and the rules of lawn tennis, and her familiarity with the rudiments of first aid.
    â€œWell,” said Lady Constance decisively, after a pause, “Miss Lumley. You are certainly everything I had hoped for in a governess, and more. May I offer you the position?”
    â€œWhat?” Penelope exclaimed, unable to hide her surprise.
    â€œForgive me! Of course you need to know the terms. I am utterly hopeless with numbers, but Lord Ashton drew this up for your perusal before he left for business this morning.” She handed Penelope a folded sheet of heavy notepaper, monogrammed with a large, decorative A .
    Penelope opened it and read. The neat writing within indicated salary, number of holidays, sick leave, and so forth. The terms were generous, excessively so.Ridiculously so, in fact.
    â€œI do hope the salary is adequate! If you require, Lord Ashton will make any necessary adjustments.” Lady Constance looked at Penelope with a strangely blank expression on her face and waited for her answer.
    â€œThese terms are perfectly acceptable,” Penelope finally choked out.
    â€œExcellent, excellent!” Lady Constance sprang from her seat once more and paced around the room. “You must start at once. Today, in fact! I will send instructions to your school—Swansea? Swansong? You must remind me of the name—to send the rest of your things.”
    â€œMy trunk is in the carriage that brought me from the station,” Penelope said. “I have no other possessions.” She was suddenly dizzy and thought this must be what people meant when they said that a person was “in shock.” But she managed to stand up, and Lady Constance impulsively took her right hand in both of her own.
    â€œMiss Lumley,” she said, “may I have your solemn oath that you will embrace the position of governess and fulfill its duties from this day forward? I would hate to endure the crushing disappointment I would feel, if you should suddenly change your mind.”
    Penelope straightened and returned the lady’s gaze with as much forthrightness as she could muster, given the rapid turn of events.
    â€œThe word of a Swanburne girl is as solemn an oath as anyone could require,” she replied. “Have no fear on that account. I accept.”
    And with that, they both affixed their signatures to the bottom of the letter of terms that Lord Ashton had prepared. Penelope hardly thought this necessary, but Lady Constance assured her that signed, binding contracts were the custom in these parts, a charming formality which she would not dream of omitting.

T HE T HIRD C HAPTER
The source of the mysterious howling is revealed .
    W HEN PEOPLE EXPERIENCE a sudden, happy change of fortune, it often comes as a great shock to the system. Reckless personalities may do foolish and extravagant things, such as buying a yacht even if they are prone to seasickness and do not know their port side from their aft, while more cautious souls