Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 129: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

than as a governess and companion. Miss Stewartwas still the guest of the duchess, and was to remain at Osterly until her mother should be settled at Brighton, when she would go down with the duchess, who also had an elegant residence at this fashiona)ble resort. Helena Stewart was a remarkable girl in some re- | spects. She had been @ brilliant scholar duriug the | latter years of her school life, and had graduated | with high honors from a noted institution in the | United States, She was accomplished in music and painting, and could speak three languages besides | her own, while she possessed a charm of manner | and expression that fascinated every one whom she | met. Everybody pronounced her ‘“beautiful,’’ ‘‘de- | lightful,’ and she was a favorite in society every- | where. | It was a great pity that all this was not genuine; | that if was only assumed for the sole purpose of | being popular and of conquering all hearts—those of her own as Well as those of the sterner sex. There was an air of sweetness and graciousness in ler in- tercourse with every one which made individuals feel that she entertained a special friendship for them—that she experienced a peculiar delight in their coinpanionship.. But there was a selfish object in all this; it was assumed for the sole purpose of making life pleasant for herself. It was very de- lightful to stand high in the opinion of every one; to be petted and feted by all; to be invited every where, to have everybody speak well of her, praising her beauty and charming qualities, and to be the center of attraction in choiee circles. Her grace, the Duchess of Osterly, had been won by pee they inet by chance one day infbe-Mearcarn | at Rome.