Miss Mephistopheles: A Novel: (Sequel to Madame Midas.)
David Hume · en
He was so delighted with her fidelity to a poor man, that he made his
will in her favour, feeling sure that, as he had no relations, she
would be the most deserving person to leave it to. A carriage accident
killed him six months afterwards, and Eugénie found herself a very
rich woman, with as many thousands as she had pence before.
She took her good fortune very calmly, telling no one about it, not
even her employers; but, after consultation with the lawyer, she sent
five hundred pounds to Keith, with instructions to the bank that he
was not to know where it came from. Then she set herself to work out a
little scheme she had in her head, to find out if he were true to her.
In many of the letters he had written, she had been struck with the
frequent mention of one name, Caprice, and on making inquiries, found
out all about the actress. She bought a photograph of her, and was
struck with the pathetic face of a woman who was said to lead so vile
a life. Dreading lest Keith should have fallen in love with this
divinity of the stage, she determined to go down to Melbourne and see
for herself.
By chance, however, she found in a newspaper an advertisement that
Kitty Marchurst wanted a governess for her little girl, and seeing at
once an excellent opportunity of finding out if her suspicions were
correct, wrote offering herself for the situation.
Kitty on her side remembered the name of Eugénie Rainsford as that of
the girl to whom Keith told her he was engaged, so, curious to see
what she was like, engaged her for a governess at once. Eugénie was
delighted when she received this letter, and, still in the character
of a poor and friendless girl, she left Mr. Chine, the lawyer, to
manage her property, after binding him to secrecy, and came down to
take the situation.
Keith's evident desire that she should not accept the situation made
her all the more determined to do so, and twelve o'clock the next day
found her in the drawing-room of Caprice's house, waiting for the
entrance of her future mistress.
When Kitty entered the room she could not help admiring the handsome
woman before her, and on her part Eugénie was astonished to see the
bright vivacity of the melancholy face, for Caprice's features were
sad only when in repose.
The two women stood opposite to one another for a moment, mentally
making up their minds about each other. Kitty was the first to speak.
"Miss Rainsford, I believe?"
"Yes; I came to see you about--about the situation."
"Governess for my little girl," said Kitty, nodding her head. "Yes, I
want some one whom I can trust."
"I hope you will be able to trust me."
Caprice looked keenly at her, and then burst out into a torrent of
words.
"Yes, I think I can trust you--but the question is, will you take care
of my child--I mean will you accept the trust? You have come from the
country--you don't know who I am?"
"Yes, I do--Miss Marchurst."
"No! not Miss Marchurst--Caprice!"