Argosy (UK), January 1955 — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

68 CARYL BRAHMS Tante Mignonnette felt his bandages. Still feverish, she decided. “I have brought you something from the country— something to make your room look brighter. You may be having some important visitors soon,” she told him playfully—playfully for Tante Mignonnette, that is. And she took up the object she had set down. It was a Maidenhair Fern. Scarcely had T'ante Mignonnette departed when two more guests appeared for Monsieur Gustave. They were Mademoiselle Sophie’s parents, who, hearing of his misadventure, had hurried over to assure themselves that all was not ruined. ‘‘ Bygones are bygones,”’ said le Papa. ‘““ And turquoises, turquoises,” said la Maman unaccountably. Monsieur Gustave blinked. But la Maman was speaking again: “Outside waits one who has a gift for you—a simple enough object, but then, we know you have a liking for such things. Open the door, Vercingétorix—the Little can enter now! ” And there, on the threshold of this miscreant’s room stood an angel straight from heaven, a Maidenhair Fern in her hands. And this was not all. For scarce had Monsieur Gustave’s temperature jumped a point when there was yet another knock at the door. Madame la Concierge’s summons had come. In fact the baby was already there—a sweet little girl who resembled her father not at all. And would Monsieur Gustave be kind enough to take her friend’s Maidenhair Fern also into his keeping? It was not as grandiose a specimen as the one she had already left in his charge—and here the concierge looked round for it, failed to see it, and supposed that it was standing on the window- sill behind the curtains drawn to shield Monsieur Gustave’s suffering eyes from the glare of the sun. But poor as was the fern that her friend had left with her, it still had far more character than any of the so-called Maidenhairs here! Madame la Concierge sniffed. It is indeed a wise cook who knows her own onions! And that reminded Madame la Concierge ... The christen- ing was taking place next month. Would Monsieur Gustave be kind enough to look after her dog for her? * * * The gambling known as business looks with austere disfavour on the business known as gambling. AMBROSE BIERCE oy ae comiclooks.comn