Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

130 ARTHURS HARANGUE. Upon receiving his answer she disappeared as noiselessly as she had approached. ‘*Who is that woman?’’ asked Dick, following, with his eyes, the tall, slender figure, until it was lost in the dark- ness. ‘‘She is Miss Cameron—Miss Elsie Cameron, my wife’s companion. ’”’ ‘Companion! I cannot imagine her occupying a menial position. She bears herself like an empress. ’’ “The position of a companion can scarcely be called ‘menial,’’’ observed Arthur, ‘‘and reverses have been known to turn the softest hand rough. But it would be very long, I judge, before a woman like Miss Cameron, who, I have been informed, is a lady born and bred, could lose sight of the fact, or allow any one else to do so, either. She has learned precisely how to make herself invaluable to those around her, and she is positively necessary to Ger- trude’s comfort.’’ ‘“‘But who is she? Where did you get her?’’ Arthur told him all he knew of Miss Cameron’s history, and Dick unconsciously repeated Gertrude’s expression, only in different words: ‘Poor girl! What hard lines! She deserves to be merry for the remainder of her life.’’ During the few days occupied in crossing, Dick did not find a single hour hang heavy upon his hands, and although Ceesar brought him each morning a pile of new books, as he came from breakfast, most of the leaves were still un- cut when they were seated in the train, steaming toward Paris. Ihe sea air seemed to benefit Gertrude, and she appeared on deck with Miss Cameron every day. There Dick and Ar- CO RNIElOOO KS, EO)