Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 133: what you’re looking at

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

124 MARRIAGE AND DEATH. She looked up from the handkerchief she was idly plait- ing. ‘it makes no difference to me one way or the other,’’ she answered. ‘““As I say,’’ pursued Arthur, ‘‘she is a lady, poor, I be- lieve, and possibly friendless. Doctor Lambert says she has lost all her family.”’ Gertrude dropped the handkerchief. ‘All her family?’’ she repeated. ‘“Every member of it.”’ ‘‘Poor soul!’’ she uttered, with a sigh. ‘‘She is coming here. Will you see her?’’ ‘‘Yes, I’ll see her. I shall be more interested in her now. I pity her so much! When is she coming?’’ But before he could respond her maid, Ellen, a trim lit- tle Englishwoman, in a black dress and neat, fluted apron, entered, after rapping discreetly. ‘The nurse, Miss Cameron, is below, sir, and wishes to see you, if you please,’’ she said. ‘‘Do you feel like talking with her?’’ asked Arthur, rising. Gertrude nodded, and Ellen disappeared, to return a min- ute later accompanied by Miss Cameron. She was a very different looking personin her street garments from what she was in her cambric dress and apron, and Gertrude was obliged to look twice to make certain it was the same one. She was in deep though sim- ple mourning, and as she entered she threw her vail back from her face, pausing at the threshold modestly, yet quite at her ease. ‘‘T may come in?’’ she said, in a quiet, pleasant tone. Gertrude raised herself a little on her cushions, while Arthur replied: Gomichbooks-com