Adventure and adventurers -- Juvenile fiction; Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction; Seafaring life -- Juvenile fiction
Miss Jane was present. He behaved with great respect, though May was
somewhat astonished the way he set about giving instruction, for he
seemed to understand nothing about grammar, and she suspected that his
pronunciation was far from correct.
"He may nevertheless be of assistance to you," said Miss Jane, after he
had gone, "and as I promised to let him come to-morrow, we will see how
he then gets on."
And so it came about that the audacious Miles again found himself in the
presence of innocent May. He was so elated by the success of his first
lesson that he could with difficulty maintain his assumed character, and
more than once he inadvertently dropped the French accent and addressed
his pupil in English. May's suspicions were gradually aroused, and as
he grew more familiar in tone she attentively examined his countenance.
Suddenly recognition seemed to flash upon her, and rising quickly she
darted out of the room.
"I have been and made a mess of it again," he muttered to himself,
"still I will try and calm the old lady if she says anything, and set
matters to rights."
Miss Jane was not so easily deceived. May told her her suspicions. She
entered with a stern brow, and the sum she had promised to pay for the
lessons in her hand.
"I do not enquire who you are, but I have to inform you that the young
lady does not wish to receive further lessons, nor do we desire again to
see you here," she said, giving the money.
The pretended French master endeavoured to expostulate, but Miss Jane
only pointed significantly to the door.
At last, finding that he was not listened to, he took his hat with an
ill grace which further betrayed him, and hurried out of the house.
The next day he called intending to apologise, but Miss Jane refused to
admit him.
"But will not Miss Halliburt see me just for one minute?" he asked,
offering Susan half-a-guinea. "They don't pay you very high wages here,
I guess."
"Take yourself off, Master Gaffin, and your money too," exclaimed Susan,
indignantly, putting her hands behind her back. "Do you fancy we don't
know you with all your pretended French airs and gibberish. Let me
advise you not to show your face inside those gates again."
Miles sneaked off without attempting to reply. Recovering his audacity
on his return to his lodgings he for several days made attempts to see
May, who, fearing to meet him out-of-doors, was kept a prisoner within
the grounds.
Miles, foiled in his plan, determined to consult his father, but, not
wishing to be seen near the mill in daylight, he took a stroll on the
Downs, intending to make his way there at dusk.
He had gone some distance, when suddenly the tall figure of Mad Sal,
rising as it seemed out of the earth, stood before him. He started back
and would have hurried away, recollecting her appearance when he had
assisted in the outrage on Jacob Halliburt.
Though others might not have recognised him, she, it was evident, did
so, from the way she addressed him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account