The Argosy — page 355: what you’re looking at

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

Beenie Anne Hereford. 333 “‘But I have my own to pack.” “'Yourown! What for? Alfred de Mellissie is not your husband, that you should hasten to him.” ‘** But—am I not to go with you, madamepe” ‘¢ Certainly not,” was her emphatic answer. ‘‘It would be a needless expense and trouble.” I felt dumbfounded. ‘“ But, Madame de Melissie, what am I to do?” “Do! Why stay here till my return. What else should you doe I shall be back in a few days at most. I know what Monsieur Alfred’s danger is! Only, if I did not make the journey, madame la mére would hold me forth to all Paris as a model of barbarity. Mamma,” she quickly added, turning to Lady Chandos, “TI shall return here to finish my visit as soon as I can get away. It will not be a week before you'll see me again. You can let Miss Hereford wait here for me, can't you ? Can’t you, Harry ?” ‘Provided Miss Hereford will make herself at home with us, which I fancy she has not yet done,” was the reply of Mr. Chandos, looking at me with a smile. Lady Chandos simply bowed her head. “Qh, she is one who always gives you the notion of being shy,” care- lessly replied Emily, as she ran up the staircase. What was Ito do? I could not say to her, “You shall take me ;” but, after the conversation I had overheard, it was most unpleasant to me to stay. Iran after Emily. I told her that my remaining might not be really agreeable to Lady and Mr. Chandos. Her reply was, that they must make it agreeable, for there was no accommodation forme at Madame de Mellissie’s. | “ Look here, Anne ; don’t you be shyand stupid. I cannot drop you in the street like a waif, e# route, and I cannot take you home. Suppose Alfred’s illness should turn to typhus fever? would it be well for you to be there? But there’s no room for you, and that’s the fact.” I disclosed to her my penniless condition, for some of my poor twenty- five shillings had melted on the journey from Panis, and I had but fifteen left. I begged her to lend me some money, and I would find my way alone to Nulle. Emily laughed heartily, but she did not give me any. ‘‘T shall be back next week, child. Make yourself easy.” By mid-day she was gone, Pauline attending her, and Mr. Chandos escorting her to the station. I was left, with the words I had heard spoken, as to my unwelcome presence in the house, beating their refrain on my brain. Whether Lady Chandos remonstrated privately with her daughter against leaving me, or whether she recognized it as a sort of necessity, and tacitly acquiesced in the arrangement, I had no means of knowing. What was Ito do with myself? Put on my things and go out? There was nothing else to do. As I came down with them on, Lady Chandos met me in the hall. comicloooks (CO) an _