She had not been at all pleased that her father should engage a governess without consulting her own and her mother’s pleasure.
This feeling was shared by Mrs. Coolidge, but she had learned wisdom from long experience, and did not openly oppose her liege lord’s authority upon any matter.
“I think you are worrying about nothing,” she said, in reply to her daughter. “I’m sure I can’t see anything so very beautiful about Miss Douglas,” and she cast a proud look at her own fashionable darling.
“Where are your eyes, mamma?” was the impatient reply. “Her features are perfect; she has the loveliest complexion and color I have ever seen in any face; her hands and feet are at least two sizes smaller than either mine or Viola’s, and her form just dainty enough to suit a fastidious young man like Wilbur.”
“Really, Isabel, you must have spent considerable time inspecting the new governess to serve up such a catalogue of her charms,” remarked Mrs. Coolidge, contemptuously, adding: “Perhaps you are afraid she may attract others, and interfere with your own prospects.”
“She may; who knows?” replied the envious girl.
“Well, if you really think there is danger, I will try and persuade your father to get rid of her even now. But I am of the opinion that you have exaggerated her good looks; I see nothing so very noticeable about her, and I’m sure she dresses plainly enough to suit anybody. She does not wear a single ornament—nothing but those soft ruches at her neck and wrists.”
“Her dress is all right, but hers is a style of beauty that does not need dress to set it off. She would look lovely in anything. But it would never do to think of sending her away now. Papa is bewitched with her, and I do believe if grandpa was a young man he would fall in love with her himself; he has done nothing but sound her praises ever since he met her in the reading-room.”
“Pshaw! Isabel, how extremely foolish you are; do try and get such nonsense out of your head. But I promise I will take care that Wilbur does not see much of her, or any other young gentleman whom we may meet abroad,” said Mrs. Coolidge, resolutely.
“If you can only put that resolution in force she may prove very useful to us, after all. Her accent is every bit as pure as Monsieur Renaud’s, and I must confess that her music is perfectly bewildering. She will save all need of music-masters or teachers in the languages, which will be quite an item; it has cost me more than her salary every year for my music and French,” said Isabel.