Produced by Al Haines [Frontispiece: There she stood] THE GOVERNESS BY JULIE M. LIPPMANN _Author of_ "MAMMA-BY-THE-DAY," etc. _Illustrated by_ CHARLES R. CHICKERING McClelland, Goodchild & Stewart Publishers ------ Toronto 1916 Copyright 1897 by THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY Copyright 1916 by THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY The Governess Contents CHAP. I NAN II NAN'S VISITOR III MR. TURNER'S PLAN IV THE GOVERNESS V GETTING ACQUAINTED VI WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS VII OPEN CONFESSION VIII NAN'S HEROINE IX HAVING HER OWN WAY X EXPERIENCES XI CHRISTMAS XII SMALL CLOUDS XIII ON THE ICE XIV CHANGES XV A TUG OF WAR XVI THE SLEIGH-RIDE XVII CONSEQUENCES XVIII "CHESTER NEWCOMB" XIX IN MISS BLAKE'S ROOM XX THROUGH DEEP WATERS XXI ANOTHER CHRISTMAS Illustrations There she stood . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ "I'll run away first!" The little governess was beside her "I have a little errand to do" "Provoking things!" The Governess CHAPTER I NAN "Hello, Nan!" "Heyo, Ruthie!" "Where are you going?" "Over to Reid's lot." "Take me?" "No, Ruthie, can't." The little child's lip began to tremble. "I think you're real mean, Nan Cutler," she complained. Nan shook her head. "Can't help it if you do," she returned, stoutly, and took a step on. "Nannie," cried the child eagerly, starting after her and clutching her by the skirt, "I didn't mean that! Truly, I didn't. I think you're just as nice as you can be. Do please let me go with you. Won't you?" Nan compressed her lips. "Now, Ruth, look here," she said after a moment, in which she stood considering, "I'd take you in a minute if I could but the truth is--oh, you're too little." "I ain't too little!" "Well, then, your mother doesn't like you to be with me, so there!" cried Nan, in a burst of reckless frankness. Ruth hung her head. She could not deny it but at sight of her companion turning to leave her she again started forward, piping shrilly, "Nannie! Nannie! She won't care this time. Honest, she won't." Nan stalked on without turning her head. The hurrying little feet followed on close behind. "Nannie! Nannie!" "See here, Ruth," exclaimed the girl, veering suddenly about and speaking with decision. "You can't come, and that's all there is about it. Your mother doesn't like me, and you ought not to disobey her. Now run back home like a good little girl." The delicate, small face upturned to hers grew hardened and set, but the child did not move. Nan gave her a friendly shove on the shoulder and turned on her way again. Immediately she heard the tap of hurrying little feet behind, like the echoing sound of her own hasty footsteps. She stopped and swung about abruptly.