Sir Noel's Heir: A Novel. May Agnes Fleming

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СКАЧАТЬ air. She was quite young, not older than my lady herself, and eminently good-looking. The tall, slender figure, clad in widow's weeds, was as symmetrical as Lady Thetford's own, and the full black dress set off the pearly fairness of the blonde skin, and the rich abundance of fair hair. Lady Thetford's brows contracted a little; her fair, subdued, gentle-looking, girlish young woman, was hardly the strong-minded, middle-aged matron she had expected to take the nonsense out of obstreperous May Everard.

      "Mrs. Weymore, I believe," said Lady Thetford, resuming her fauteuil, "pray be seated. I wished to see you at once, because I am going out this evening. You have had five years' experience as a nursery-governess, Mr. Knight tells me."

      "Yes, my lady."

      There was a little tremor in Mrs. Weymore's low voice, and her blue eyes shifted and fell under Lady Thetford's steady and somewhat haughty gaze.

      "Yet you look young – much younger than I imagined, or wished."

      "I am twenty-seven years old, my lady."

      That was my lady's own age precisely, but she looked half a dozen years the elder of the two.

      "Are you a native of London?"

      "No, my lady, of Berkshire."

      "And you have been a widow, how long?"

      What ailed Mrs. Weymore? She was all white and trembling – even her hands, folded and pressed together in her lap, shook in spite of her.

      "Eight years and more."

      She said it with a sort of sob, hysterically choked. Lady Thetford looked on surprised, and a trifle displeased. She was a very proud woman, and certainly wished for no scene with her hired dependents.

      "Eight years is a tolerable time," she said, coolly. "You have lost children?"

      "One, my lady."

      Again that choked, hysterical sob. My lady vent on pitilessly.

      "Is it long ago?"

      "When – when I lost its father?"

      "Ah! both together? That was rather hard. Well, I hope you understand the management of children – spoiled ones particularly. Here are the two you are to take charge of. Rupert – May come here."

      The children came over from their corner. Mrs. Weymore drew May toward her, but Sir Rupert held aloof.

      "This is my ward – this is my son. I presume Mr. Knight has told you. If you can subdue the temper of that child, you will prove yourself, indeed, a treasure. The east parlor has been fitted up for your use; the children will take their meals there with you; the room adjoining is to be the school-room. I have appointed one of the maids to wait on you. I trust you will find your chamber comfortable."

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