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    THE MISDEEDS OF AURA PLAISTOW. 191

• Transcript

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    I. She Was But Nineteen; And Nineteen Do...

    talk In tliat clear , loud , open voice of hers , Georgie perfectly stared with , wonder , partly at her innocent audacity in Mrs . Delane's awful

    person good presenc friends . e , But partl at queer y a at sitting , cousin droll and , _Toin ugl fraternised y ' s little " come Georg out masonicall " ie in choosing d y A . And b such ecame when a

    the Geor village gie went mig away ht have , Aura done , said so , too and , all the room heard her , and half

    " I hope I shall see you again soon . " Which was what Tom himself dared not have said .

    " You must not give invitations in that manner , " said Margaret , taking her into the garden , " mamma does not like it . "

    " What invitations ? " asked Aura , wonderingly . " What you said just now to George Crace . "

    " But what did I say ? I did not say anything . " " Yesyou did : you said you hoped you would see him again

    , soon . Mamma is very particular about her authority . " "Oh ! I ' m sure 1 did not mean anything ! " said Aura , all in a

    flame of sorrow and penitence . " I'll go and tell Mrs . Delane so . " And before Margaret could stop her , she had rushed through the

    garden , jumping all the flower-beds , and had torn up-stairs , where , out of breath and pantingshe assured Mrs . Delane that she had

    not meant to offend her , and , that she was very sorry if she had done so , winding Lip her explosive penitence by kissing that lady ' s

    stern , grim , frowning face . " Never do that againyoung lady ! " said Mrs . Delane , angrily .

    , " _YoLir conduct , Miss Plaistow , is positively unbearable ! How have been brought ? with savages or how ? for you are not in

    you up action , breeding , or idea in the remotest degree like an English gentle-Avoman . You are unlike anything I have ever met with , and , let

    me say , as disagreeable as you are singular . Never let me have to speak to you again on such subjects , and never presume to repeat

    the offensive liberty you have just taken . " " I am / ' said Aurafor the first time really hurt ;

    the tears very coming sorry into her eyes . , And then she turned away and went -sadl ' up stairswhere she did what she had not done since she

    y , fell from the pony and cut her head , eleven years ago—had a long and violent fit of crying .

    This was the first real puncture , the small end of the wedge . Having accomplished thus much , Mrs . Delane had the game now

    in her own hands , and might deal what suits she chose . Acting on Aura's words , and following his own impulse , George

    Crace , queer , droll , ugly little Georgie , called the next day , on some made-up business , which could have been seen through with even less

    than Mrs . Delane's penetration . Aura was very glad to see him . He was the only bit of life and nature , or of kindness , that she had

    seen since she came to the Hollies . For Tom had changed so much from the " pleasant old Tom" of Merridno ; he was so stiff and

    starched , and so frightened of his mother , he laced his moral stays

    The Misdeeds Of Aura Plaistow. 191

    THE MISDEEDS OF AURA PLAISTOW . 191

• Citation
  • English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), Nov. 1, 1858, page 191, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01111858/page/47/