So to have Mother Carey to read "Elaine" undisturbed was as great an
indulgence as Allen could well have, but she had not gone far before
he broke out—-
"Mother, please, I wish you could do something for that girl. She
really is a lady."
"So it appears," said Carey, much disposed to laugh.
"Now, mother, don't be tiresome. You have more sense than Janet.
Her father was Vice-consul at Sant Ildefonso, one of the Antilles."
"But, my dear, I am afraid that is not quite so grand as it sounds-—"
"Hush, mother. He was nephew to Mr. Barnes, and they lived out of
the town in a perfect paradise of a place, looking out into the bay.
Mr. Gould says he can hardly believe he ever saw anything so
gorgeously beautiful, and there this poor little Elvira de Menella
lived like a princess with a court of black slaves. Just fancy what
it must be to her to come to that farm, an orphan too, with an aunt
who can't understand a creature like that."
"Poor child."
"Then she can't get any education. Old Gould is a sensible man, who
says any school he could afford would only turn her out a sham, and
he means, when Mary and Kate are a little older, to get some sort of
governess for the three. But, mother, couldn't you just let him
bring her in on market days and teach her a little?"
"My dear boy, what would your aunt do? We can't have sods of mud
flying about the house.
Pages:
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219