The Argosy — page 353: what you’re looking at

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

. eKpril tadoe Anne Hereford. 331 seen ; and I retraced my steps, not caring to lose myself. But for the beautiful order in which everything was kept, the place might have been called a wilderness. I noticed one thing: that the front windows in each of the wings had their inside shutters closed ; strong oak shutters: both the lower and the upper rooms were shut in from the light of day. I never saw them opened while I stayed at Chandos. The lower windows, looking to the side of the house, were also kept dark ; but the rooms above and those looking to the back were open. A narrow gravel path, shut in by laurels, led round the wings to the back of the house. The servants used that by the east wing, the ‘one inhabited by Mrs. Chandos. No one used the other, except Lady Chandos. For a servant or any one else to be seen there would have been high treason, involving probably dismissal. It was an understood law of the house, and never rebelled against. The shrubs on Lady Chandos’s side had grown thick as a very grove, affording just space for one person to pass to the small door that gave entrance to the wing. I knew nothing of the prohibition in strolling there that day. On learning it afterwards, I felt thankful not to have been seen. I was in-doors, and sitting in my bed-chamber, the chintz-room, when the carriage returned. Emily, in high spints, saw me as she ran up stairs, and came in. ‘All alone, Anne! We have had a charming dnve. To-morrow, if you are good, you shall have one; we'll take the large carnage.” She stood with her foot on a small low chazrr, tilting it about, and looking out at the servants, who were turning the horses to drive round to the stables at the back. ‘*What a nice place this seems to be, Madame de Mellissie! But I think, if I were Lady Chandos, I should have the trees and shrubs thinned a little.” “Tt is mamma’s pleasure that they shall be thick. She only lives in retirement. Were my brother, Sir Thomas, to come home, he might effect a change. As long as he Is away, mamma’s will is paramount at Chandos.” ‘“‘ How many brothers have you?” “Two. Sir Thomas and Harry.” ‘‘ Have you lost any?” ‘Any brothers? A little one: Greville. He died when he was six years old. Why do you ask P” ‘‘IT was only wondering who Mrs. Chandos was. It has been cross- ing my mind that she is perhaps a daughter-in-law.” Madame de Mellissie turned on me a haughty face of reproof. “It certainly is no affair of yours, Miss Hereford. Mrs. Chandos is Mrs. Chandos; she is no impostor.” ‘‘T beg your pardon, madame,” I meekly answered, feeling I had ecomicloooks (CO) mn