Madam,I beg to present you with the photograph which you ask me to send. I think I have very good features and IknowI'll make a excellent governess. It is not at all true what was said about me in my last situation and I am willing to come and look after your little boy and teach him when he is old enough. Give me a nice bed-room Madam; of course I am a Catholic which I suppose you heard from Madame Antoinette.I remain, Yours truly,Rose M. Junick.
Madam,
I beg to present you with the photograph which you ask me to send. I think I have very good features and IknowI'll make a excellent governess. It is not at all true what was said about me in my last situation and I am willing to come and look after your little boy and teach him when he is old enough. Give me a nice bed-room Madam; of course I am a Catholic which I suppose you heard from Madame Antoinette.
I remain, Yours truly,
Rose M. Junick.
Mrs. Hose answered the letter and this is what she put,
Dear Miss Junick,I like you very much but I must not believe what was said about you in your last situation. Will you meet me at the Victoria Station on Thursday at half past four and I will ask you a few questions.Yours truly,E. Hose.
Dear Miss Junick,
I like you very much but I must not believe what was said about you in your last situation. Will you meet me at the Victoria Station on Thursday at half past four and I will ask you a few questions.
Yours truly,E. Hose.
Mrs. Hose was now satisfied she d answered the letter and in time she would have the governess with her.
Thenext morning Mrs. Hose ordered breakfast early than usual in order that she might get off by the 9/30 becaus she was going to do a little shoping first and she thought to her self she could get a beautiful dinner at one of the Resteraunts and she smacked her lips as she sat down to her breakfast of eggs and beacon and a cup of cocoa. When she hadfinished she went up stairs and placed her bonnet on her head and buttoned up her patent leather boots and took an umbrella because it looked stormy and started on her way to the station bidding her husband farewell.
Directly she got outside it began to rain so she put up umbrela and within ten minets she got to the station and jumped into a first class carriage (for she licked to look grand) and soon the train started off for the smokey and dreary city.
At last the train got to Victora and out jumped Mrs. hose without a moments delay, she walked up and down outside the refreshment room (for this was where she was to meet our Heroine) she went up to one lady and said do you mind me asking you but I am looking for my future governess Miss Junick do you posess that name I am sorry for your sake that I do not she ansewerd politely and walked on. then Mrs. hose asked another lady who was peradeing up and down in a red and gray dress eating a halfpeny bun which she had just bought. Mrs. Hose advanced towards her and when she got close to her she saw she was very pretty so she thorght she would be as polite as she could and began have Ithe plesure of meeting Miss Junick. I am not Miss Junick but I am a frend of the dear ladys (best luck) and she told me she would be here to meet you at half past four this afternoon oh thank you said Mrs. Hose I now recerlect I was thinking I had to meet her this morning farewell or a deiw as the french say she said as she left the station to go and get some dinner. Perhaps you would like to know what she had for dinner—rabbit and merangues were what she chose and she drank sherry wine. After dinner she went into the depth of London to look at some of the shops and came back in time to see the governess. As she entered Victoria station she met a precise young lady hastening to the refreshment room, she hurried after her and when she got up to her thought she looked like Miss Junick in the face, but before she could say a word the lady jumped sideways and asked her was she Mrs. Hose and with an answer of yes they walked together into the waiting room and sat down upon a horse hair cushion and they now commenced their conversation.
"How long were you in your last place?"
"Two years madam"
"Oh and was that your 1st place?"
"Oh no I was abroad before with three little french children there was only one in the other family and she was a throro English child—so was her mother."
"Oh and what do you teach" said Mrs. Hose cocking up one eyebrow.
"Music, drawing, the use of the globes, etc., etc. only you don't want me to teach your little boy yet do you?"
"No, no, no," said Mrs. Hose "not yet he is only six months old, but are you very fond of children and have you any little sisters and brothers?"
"I have one little sister of 10 and a little baby brother and I have two grown uppers, but I am very fond of children and wish I had one of my own."
"You won't whip my baby will you?" said Mrs. Hose.
"Oh dear no" she answered "I'de spoil him more likely than whip him."
"Oh well I want you to be medium with him" said Mrs. Hose.
"Quite so Madam I understand babies thoroughly; are there any more questions youthink you would like to ask me whilst I'm here?"
"I think I've asked you pretty nearly all she answered" except when could you come to me?"
"I can come on Monday Madam I was packing a few of my things in case you would have me."
"Let me see now" said Mrs. Hose pausing "how about the washing shall you pay it or will I?"
"Well I'm not very rich Madam and it would be a charity if you will pay it."
"Certainly I will and how much are you used to getting a year?"
"Either 5 or 14 pounds according to what I have to do. I don't do much for 5."
"All right I will give you 14. I hope you will do a good deal for that as I want you to bath the baby and have utter charge of him. And as you are coming on Monday, I will prepare you a nice bedroom" "Thank you very much Madam" said Miss Junick getting up smiling. "Good afternoon Madam she said hurrying out of the waiting room. Mrs. Hose came home by the 6 o'clock train and told her husband all about Miss Junickand Mr. Hose said he thought she'd do very nicely.
Monday soon came and with it the governess in a station cab and a large box with R. M. J. in red enamel on it. "Here I am Mrs. Hose" she said stepping out of the cab "who tips the cabman you or I"? "The Butler" replied Mrs. Hose he has a few shillings in his pocket—Come on John and give the Cabman 2/6". The Butler obeyed and helped the honest cabman in with the box. Miss Junick was then shown up to her bedroom to take off her hat. Then she went into the nursery and found her pupil sitting in a high chair all alone playing with his rattle.
Just the kind of baby I shall get jelous of she thought.
Asshe entered the room the baby looked up from his play, and stared at her rather hard, surprised at seeing a strange lady.
But Miss Junick did not take any notice of the baby's astonishment, but merely walkedstraight over to it, lifted it up, and kissed it a great many times, saying as she did so,
"Oh you dear little thing! how I would long to have you for my own." She then rang the bell for dinner, as it was then one o'clock, and she knew that she had to give the baby its dinner in the nursery. Presently the housemaid came up, bearing a tray in her hand with the dinner on it. Miss Junick then gave the baby its dinner, and got up and tried to amuse it, but the baby got cross and tired, not being used to her; so that she was obliged to lay it down in its cradle for its afternoon sleep, while she herself went upstairs to unpack her box. When she had done unpacking she came down again to see if the baby had awoke.
It was just beginning to wake up as she entered the room. She was pleased to see that it was awake, and lifted it out of its cradle, kissing it and repeating the same words as before.
At last tea time came, and pretty soon after tea Miss Junick took the baby in her arms and took it down stairs to say good night to Mr. and Mrs. Hose.
She then brought it upstairs again, took itinto its mother's bedroom, and began to undress it. She found its little nightgown in a white case with C.H. in pale blue letters on it. The nightgown was very pretty, It was of white flannel, and the frills round the neck and sleeves were of pale blue, as the baby was dedicated to Our Lady of Victories.
When it was in bed, after kissing it a great many times, she turned out the gas and retired to her bedroom, saying as she did so, "I could never find a baby like that anywhere, not even if I were to search the wide wide world."
"Well! I dont know though," she said to herself as she sat down on the bed, "I might go out tonight, and ask the Doctor where Mrs. Hose got herlovelybaby from. Oh no though, perhaps I couldn't, as I should have to tell Mrs. Hose that I was going out and what I was going out for. But I could pretend to her that I was going out to buy some Beechams Pills or a reel of cotton to mend some of my linen. Yes, of course I could do that."
And so, without a moments delay, she marched downstairs and into the drawing room.
"Oh please Mrs. Hose," she began, "I wouldlike to go down the town to buy a box of Beecham's Pills, may I go?, she added.
"A box of Beecham's Pills! why—are you unwell?" said Mrs. Hose.
"Oh dear no, but in case of necessity," said Miss Junick, "and perhaps when I get there I may find some other things which I want to buy in the shops."
Oh certainly, you may go," said Mrs. Hose, "but you wont be back late, will you, because of Baby."
Oh! I have put the baby to bed," said Miss Junick, cocking her head in the air, and slamming the door behind her.
Miss Junickarrived in the town at about eight o'clock! She went straight to the Doctor's house and rang loudly at the bell. In a few minutes it was answered by a boy in buttons, who asked her what she wanted, and on her replying that she wanted to see the Doctor, she was shown into a neat little drawing room draped in green and red silk. Soonshe heard the Doctor's bold step. He opened the door and in he came dressed in an evening suit. He bowed politely as he shut the door, saying—"Have I the pleasure of seeing Miss Junick the new and accomplished governess of Mrs. Hose?" "Yes—you have that pleasure," she said, getting up and bowing also.
And what is it you have come to ask me, Miss Junick? he said preparing to sit down in his arm chair.
Oh! she said, I have come to ask you where Mrs. Hose got her most lovely baby from.
"Oh, said the Doctor, I gave it to her because she wished for one," "Do you think you could manage to give me a baby like him?" said Miss Junick.
"Well, said the Doctor, the first question is, are you married?
"No, I am not married, but I will marry if you can give me a baby like that—it would be worth marrying for."
"Well! you cannot marry till someone asks you, and I cant because I have a wife of my own," said the Doctor.
"Well! can I have a baby like it even if I don't marry?" said Miss Junick.
"Oh well! I dont think so; Is that all youhave come to ask me"? he said, in an aggravating tone, beginning to open the door for her.
"Yes, that is all," said Miss Junick, "but you will try and find a baby for me, wont you?
"Yes, but you say you are not married," said the Doctor.
"Well! I must have made a mistake, and was not thinking of what I was saying, for I certainly am."
"Oh yes, I will try and find one—Good evening Miss Junick," said the Doctor.
"Good evening Doctor Brandon, said Miss Junick, and she shut the hall door behind her, and commenced to walk up the town.
Dear dear it is nine oclock oh no half past I must hurry or Mrs. Hose will be cross and say I neglect the child and I dont only she will think so because I have it for too long only an hour and a half it is not at all long. At last she came to the house and she went strait to bed but she could not sleep for thinking of the baby which she was going to have. She did not get scolded in spite of all she said.
Miss Junickawoke early the next morning; she was very excited thinking of her future baby, and she didn't get up until eight o'clock. She then walked downstairs to the baby's room, and got it up. When it was dressed she gave it its breakfast, but she didn't talk to it, as much as she did the other day, for she was too much excited. After breakfast, she found it's pram in the shed and took it out for it's walk.
At last she arrived home, and after giving the baby its dinner, she put it to it's afternoon sleep. When it woke up she took it out for another walk, and on her way she met the doctor's page boy coming along with a box under his arm. As she saw him approaching she left the pram without a word and ran along to meet him. When she got up to him, the boy raised his cap and said. "If you please, Miss, the doctor told me to bring you this box and he hopes the contents will do."
"Oh, thank you, thank you," said Miss Junick,as she took the parcel, and ran back to the pram with it.
She put the box in, and walked hastily home, for she wanted to open it. Soon she got to the house, and to her great horror, as she was going upstairs she met Mrs. Hose.
"Well, Miss Junick, have you been taking baby for a walk? she said, "and what is that box you have under your arm."
"It is only something I have bought, nothing to do with you," she muttered, as Mrs. Hose shut her bedroom door.
When she had undressed the baby, she set it up in it's high chair gave it it's rattle, and hurried upstairs to open her precious box.
"I hope it's nice," she said, as she cut the string; she then opened the lid of the box. Of course it was ugly, as most babies are when they are first born.
But this would not do for Miss Junick, for she called it 'an ugly little beast," and threatened to throw it away.
When the next day came she thought it was more ugly still, and that day she really did throw it away, and I will tell you where she put it."
In fact she did more than this, for she murderedit first, and then threw it into one of the dirty alleys. She was now quite satisfied that she had got rid of it, but she was more angry still when she found the bill inside the box, "Miss Junick Dr. to Doctor Paulin for one baby delivered as per agreement £1." She took the £1 out of her purse and walked straight down to the Doctors and gave it without a minutes delay and begged to have a receipt at once. So it was given to her at once, and he asked her in and cross questioned her about the baby. She paused a little and then said—
"Oh its getting on very nicely thank you, good afternoon," and she shut the outer door and hurried away home.
When she got home Mrs. Hose's baby was sleeping quietly in its cradle, but it soon woke up and she gave it its tea. Pretty soon after tea it went to bed, and she went up to her room, and I must tell you that her front window looked out upon the churchyard. She was looking out of this window as she was doing her hair, and she saw that the burial of a little baby was going on, and two poor women were there. Miss Junick pierced very hard out of the window and she recognisedthat it was the same little baby that she had murdered and thrown away.
"Oh! so they are burying it are they?" she said to herself, "I wouldn't take pity on such an ugly little thing if I were them.
When she had changed her dress she went downstairs to have her supper with Mr. and Mrs. Hose thinking all the while of what she had seen. When supper was over, she went upstairs and took from her trunk a "shilling shocker" and began to read it. Presently she got tired and went to bed.
Manyyears had passed by since Miss Junick had come to Mr. and Mrs. Hose, and Mrs. Hose's baby was now two years old, and Mr. Hose was very much mastaken in what he had said at first about Miss Junick helping them in the evening for she did nothing but read shilling shockers and penny horribles all the eveing till it was time for bed and after that when she was in bed she used to make plans these were what she maid, as she found herbaby ugly and that she could not get one like Mrs. Hose's she planed that she would steal Mrs. Hoses most lovely baby, little did Miss Junick think that the baby she was going to steal was the greatest tressure Mrs. Hose had ever had so she realy planed to do this wicked act. She was very kind too the baby all this time and each day she grew more and more jealous of the baby and she said her plain must soon happen and I will tell you more in the next chapter.
2weakshad past since Miss Junick had planed what she should do. One eveing she pretented too have a bad headache and went to bed before supper and had her supper in bed in order that she might think it over, yes she said I will steal the baby tomorrow and run away home too my mother and father they will be plased to know that I have stolen something and she turned on her side I will put mine and some of the babys things in a bag very early at about 5 oclock and start offso saying she began too snore and too go too sleap. soon the morning came and she awoke and dressed hurryeld put her clothes and one dress and one cloack and bonnet of the babys in the bag and soon she and the baby were in the train for Chichester were she and her mother and father lived. The baby screamed and cried because it was tired and wanted too go to sleap but wound not because it was in the train and had never been in a train before.
Miss Junick had forgoten to bring the babys own bottel but she had a small tin of biscuits in her bag and a bottel of sour milk which she had entendid for herself but gave it too the baby because it was very hungry and had not had anything too eat since its tea the eveing before, all this time Mrs. Hose was greeving over the loss of her baby and who she thought was her dear good governess can any one have murdered them Charlie she said and buried their bodys somewere No I dont think that could have happened but we might send round to Mrs. Wight and ask her if she has seen anything of them said Charlie. Yes we will do that said Mrs. Hose, I will go and wright a note and the weping lady left theroom. She soon came back I have written to Mrs. Wight she said the boy has taken the note and I expect an asew soon and she was wright for in 3 minets the boy entered and said if you plase Mum Mrs. Wight has come too see you herself she is in the drawing room and wants you. Now very well said Mrs. Hose and she walked down stairs and into the drawing room. Oh how do you do said Mrs. Wight I got your note sit down I will explain all about this. Mrs. Hose sat down and Mrs. wight began her story. Well she said I one eveing saw Miss Junick taking an eveing stroll and I asked her too come in to my house and she said as you are a great frend I will tell you this so she said I am very jealous of Mrs. Hose's baby and some day I mean to steal him and run away with him and go to my own mother and father and I promised I would not say a word to anyone.
Mrs. Hose jumped up from her chair Oh Mrs Wight if you had only told me this before I could have saved my own darling baby from been stolen from that wicked women and I will now put the blame on you. but why said Mrs. wight I think it was very good of me to keep my promise so well.
My dear Mrs. wight said Mrs. Hose if you had told me before I could have given notice to that wicked Miss Junick and she would have left before she could have time to steal my preschus darling and Mrs. Hose left the room and rushed upstairs to tell her husband the bad newes and Mrs. wight went home.
Mrs. hose ran into her husbands bedroom Charlie, Charlie, she said whatdoyou think that wicked Miss Junick whom we thought was so good has stolen our precious baby from us and that silly Mrs. wight new of this all along but never told us simply because Miss Junick asked her not too she new that Miss Junick was going to steal him and the words died off her lips as she fainted into a fitt Mr. Hose burnt a feather under her nose to make her come round and she soon revived and was able to say more to Mr. Hose.
earlythe next morning Mr. Hose got up dressed quickly and instead of going to his office he went to the police office and made enquiriesand this is what he said to inspecter have you seen a young lady with a little baby. I got a governes for my little boy and now she has stolen him and has gone home to her parents her Mother is a murderdress and her father is a robber I have no idear were her parents live, No Sir said inspecter gong I have not seen her I dont think could you dicribe her and the baby to me and then I could make sure weather I had seen her or not. Well said Mr. Hose the governess was an elderly person with sharpe black eyes and black hair and a salow complexion I do not no how she was dressed at the time for it was quite early in the morning when she stole my baby. No Sir replyed inspecter Gong I have seen no such person, oh thank you said Mr. Hose good morning, good morning Sir said the inspecter as he shut the door of the police office and Mr. Hose went down the steps and walked feeling very unsatisfactory.
Manyyears have passed since Mr. Hose lost his child Mrs. Hose had died of greef two yearsbefor and often in the eveing when Mr Hose sat alonne he would say to himself would I had that wretched Miss Junick by the scraff of the neck and he picked up the poker and shook it to show what he would do if he had her in his hands, one eveing as Mr Hose sat gazeing in to the emty great where there should have been a fire, he heard footsteps in the Porch Mr Hose was startled for now that Mrs Hose was dead people seldom came near the house and Mr Hose was not much to look at, he had very little hair and what he had was very seldom brushed and his red nose got bigger every day so you can emagin how few people ventured near him. when he heard the bell ring he jumped up and asked the servent who it was she said she would go and see she soon apperd and said it was a young man wanted to know if Mr Hose lived here show him in and say I do Just at that moment a man rushed in father he said dont you know me, and he flung himself into Mr Hoses arms my son my son where have you been all these long years tell me all about it. where is mother I must tell her too why my son you will never see your mother again she is dead she has dided for the loss of you ah I havehad whom I thought was my mother and it was not untill I saw in the paper that I was still bieng looked for and that my name was Charlie Hose and Mr Hose was still alive while my supposed name was Auther Junick that I was determined to ascape and so I did. well my son I cant tell you how glad I am to have you back again saying you where 1 year old when we missed you If your mother had only been here to see you safe at home and Miss Junick in Prison and always had you with her she would rejoice, and now hopingIhave pleased I will end my story of the Jealous governess or the granted wish.
Transcriber's NotesThe page numbers will link to an image of the original page. Clicking on the words in parentheses will take show the text as edited.Page 60, "is" changed to "it" (What is it dearest)Page 164, "He,en" changed to "Helen" (12-30 Helen)Page 173, an opening quotation mark was removed (Gladys dried her eyes)Missing page numbers in the margin are due to blank pages in the text.
The page numbers will link to an image of the original page. Clicking on the words in parentheses will take show the text as edited.
Page 60, "is" changed to "it" (What is it dearest)
Page 164, "He,en" changed to "Helen" (12-30 Helen)
Page 173, an opening quotation mark was removed (Gladys dried her eyes)
Missing page numbers in the margin are due to blank pages in the text.