Page 102 (1/1)
Convention is still occasionally studied even in these unconventional days, and Morgana Royal, independent and wealthy young woman as she was, had subscribed to its rule and ordinance by engaging a chaperone,--a "dear old English lady of title," as she had described her to the Marchese Rivardi Lady Kingswood iven of her, for she was distinctly a dear old English lady, and her title was the least thing about her, especially in her own opinion There was no taint of snobbery in her siuished hted for special and splendid service in the war, she had only deplored that the ruin of his health and disable any personal pleasure in the "honour"
His death followed soon after the King's recognition of his merit, and she was left with his pension to live upon, and a daughter who havingdeserted by a drunken husband and left with two sswood took much of their care upon herself--but the pension of awill not stretch further than a given point, and she found it both necessary and urgent to think of soment her slender income She was not a clever woman,--she had no special talents,--her eyes would not stand her in good stead for plain sewing, and she could not even entlethat good-breeding and tact are valuable assets in soh various private channels, for a post as companion or "chaperone" to "one lady" Just when she was rather losing hope as to the success of her effort, the "one lady" caana Royal, who, after a brief interview in London, selected her with a decision as rapid as it was inexplicable, offering her a salary of five hundred a year, which to Lady Kingsas a s to do but just be pleasant!" Morgana had told her, sly, "And enjoy your self as you like Of course I do not expect to be controlled or questioned,--I ao my oay, but I'm not at all 'modern' I don't drink or smoke or 'dope,' or crave for ht!"