Anthony Hope

“ Nobody thinks of her at all now, except just as Fraülein."
"I have been anxious to do the right thing, and she has improved the children's French." She did not add that the liquidation of Thistleton's bill by services rendered was a further benefit. We cannot be expected always to remember every aspect of our conduct.
"But it is difficult," Mrs. Thistleton went on. "And the worst of it is that Bessie and she aren't very congenial. With an ordinary governess—— Well, the only thing is to treat her like one, isn't it?" ”

“ If Divine Right were not out of fashion, the key of that citadel should have been in the hand which ruled exercise-books for the Thistleton children. For a few moments after that I went on thinking about the nursery governess.
IV. So Fraülein—she soon came to be called just "Fraülein"—was not at my dinner-party; but two or three weeks later I had a little talk with her. I went up to the Manor one afternoon in October, seeking a game of croquet with Bessie Thistleton—such are our mild delights at Southam Parva—but found the whole family gone off to a Primrose League bazaar at Beechington. ”

“ In the first place, it serves to exhibit the final stage of the descent of the Princess—the logical conclusion of the process which was begun when Thistleton dropped "Royal" from between "Her" and "Highness" in the train from Liverpool Street to Beechington. In the second place, it exhibits Mrs. Thistleton's good sense and fine feeling for the suitability of things. You couldn't have princesses—nay, nor countesses—about the house in that sort of position. It would have been absurd.
So here it is. I seldom give even small dinner-parties; such gatherings annoy my cook. ”

“ I suppose it would be best to forget, as everybody else does."
"Not everybody," I said very low.
"No, you don't forget. I've noticed that. It's foolish, but I like someone to remember. Suppose you forgot too!" ”

“ That I might be saved from further folly, from offering my strong right arm and all my worldly goods (I was at the moment overdrawn at the bank) as a contribution towards a Legitimist crusade in Boravia—Fortune sent interruption. The family came back from the bazaar, and most of them trooped into the garden. Charley Miles was with them, having joined the party at the fête on his way back from town. As they all came up, Fraülein put the big book—with its picture of her home—behind her back; I rose and walked forward to greet Mrs. Thistleton. ”

“ Thistleton, Bessie, Charley Miles, and, above all, Fraülein—set in contrast with the picture in the big book—with the castle of Friedenburg frowning above the great river, waiting for its mistress, Princess Vera; the mistress who came not because—I couldn't get away from my own folly—because there were no men in Boravia! "Absurd" was the right word, however. ”

“ By a disuse—temporary, perhaps—of her proper style, she may smooth certain—er—susceptibilities, and so render my task easier and give us a better prospect of success. Our guest now prefers to be known as the Countess Vera von Friedenburg."
I nodded again—it was the only safe thing to do. Thistleton said no more, save to express a hope (as he got into his wagonette) that they would see me soon at the Manor. Charley and I started together to walk the long mile from Beechington Station to Southam Parva ”

“ She was "Countess Vera" now. Mrs. Marsfold said: "Poor Countess Vera." Miss Dunlop's accent was less charitable: "Susan Thistleton's Countess" was her form of expression, and beneath it lay an undoubted sneer at the Princess's pretensions. Boravia, too, was spoken off with scant respect. "Really a barbarous place, I'm told," said the Rector. "They call their kings kings ”

“ Wonder if old Thistleton's taken it up on commission!"
"I hope she'll get it. I liked the little thing, didn't you, Charley?"
He cocked his hat rather more on one side and smiled; he is a good-natured young man and no fool in his own business. ”

“ Thistleton's Princess
By Anthony Hope
THE Great Ones of the earth do not come our way much down at Southam Parva. Our Member's wife is an "Honourable," and most of us, in referring to her, make express mention of that rank; moreover she comes very seldom. In the main our lot lies among the undistinguished, and our table of precedence is employed in determining the dividing lines between "Esquire." ”

“ She had looked in that moment as if no other place could be.
Now, however, she was advertising for a situation, and I speculated as to how much of the truth Mrs. Thistleton would deem it wise to employ in justifying that sublime "Well connected."
VI. I saw her the next day but one—on the morning when the third "insertion" appeared in the Morning Post. Bessie Thistleton had told me, with obvious annoyance, that there had been no replies yet. "Governesses are really a drug, unless they have a degree, in these days," she had said. "Where is she? Oh, somewhere in the garden, I think, Mr. ”

“ Countess Vera sat there, surrounded by the four youngest Thistleton children—Gladys, Myra, Molly, and the boy Evanstone (Mrs. Thistleton was a Miss Evanstone) . The Countess and the children all held books in their hands, and snatches of the French tongue fell on my ear from time to time.
"It's really very perplexing," said Mrs. Thistleton, "and it's difficult to do the light thing. I'm sure you credit us with wanting to do the right thing, Mr. Tregaskis?"
"I'm sure you'd do the right and the kind thing."
"The money she brought over is quite exhausted. Mr. ”