Miss Kate; or, Confessions of a caretaker
Rita
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 Excerpt: ...to expect miracles from the men and women who make it what it is. Self-sacrifice is only possible to a great nature. Mrs. Cray's was not that by any manner of means; but I had no right to sit in judgment upon her, no right to hint even at her folly, or the lengths to which it might lead her. I left her at the end of the month to go to a place I had heard of, in the country, as housekeeper to a doctor. We parted very good friends. Perhaps she was relieved to think I was going away. I don't know, but I could not help thinking it as I saw her eyes fall before mine when I mentioned her husband's name. And, really, I felt as if I were leaving a mine with the train laid for explosion, and only the match wanted, as I drove off from the little house in Bruton Street. CHAPTER XV. "the Pity Of It!" I Had written to Miss Kate telling her that I was leaving Mrs. Cray's and had found another situation, and she wrote back to ask me to come to Templecombe for a few days, before going to the new place. I therefore traveled down to Devonshire, glad enough of the excuse to see my pretty darling again, and wondering, all the long journey through, whether I should find her in better spirits. I had never seen her married home, and was surprised to find what a grand and beautiful place it was. I had tea in the servants' hall when I arrived, and did not see Miss Kate until after the late dinner, when a message was brought me to go to her in the boudoir. It was such a pretty, dainty room--the very setting for its dainty, little mistress; but as the door opened, and I went in; and she rose to greet me, I felt a sort of shock and terror at the change I saw in her. She was dressed in white: something loose, and soft, and fleecy, and with no particle of color about her, and ...