The Argosy — page 362: what you’re looking at

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

340 Anne Hereford. ine Amoses “ Did you ever know anything so tiresome ?” exclaimed Mrs. Chandos to her. “It is raining fast. I’m sure it 1s not once in a month, hardly, that I make up my mind to walk in the grounds, but so sure as I do, I am prevented. It rains; or it snows; or it’s too hot ; or there’s thunder in the air! It comes on purpose, I know.” ‘Perhaps it will not be much,” replied Mrs. Freeman; who, by the sound of her voice, appeared to be also now looking out at the window. “Tt will: look at those clouds, gathering fast into one thick mass. Oo-oh !" she added, with a shiver, “I don’t like to hear the dripping of the rain on the trees: it puts me in mind of—of—” “Of what, my dear?” asked Mrs. Freeman. ‘‘Of the night I first heard those awful tidings. It was raining then, a steady, soaking rain, and I had been listening to its falling on the leaves till the monotony of the sound worried me, and I began wishing he was athome. Not on these trees, you know ; we were at the other place. Drop, drop, drop; as the rain never sounds but where there are trees for it to fallon. The opening of the room-door interrupted me, and my lady came in. Ah! I shall never forget her; her face was white, her eyes looked wild, her hands were lifted; I saw there was some- thing dreadful to be told. She sat down, and, drawing me to her, said “ Hush—sh—sh !” interposed Mrs. Freeman, with sharp caution. ‘You may be speaking for other ears than mine.” ‘‘T was not going to allude to facts,” was the retort of Mrs. Chandos, her tone peevish at the interruption. ‘My lady asked me if I could bear trouble ; fiery trouble, such as had rarely overtaken one in my rank of life before ; and my answer was to fall into a fainting fit at her feet. Never, since then, have I liked to hear the ram pattering down on the leaves where the trees are thick.” I would have shut my door, but feared it might look ungracious to do so. They had eyes, and could see that it was open, if they pleased to look ; therefore they might choose their subjects accordingly. Mrs. Chandos resumed. “Who is that young lady? She came up the stairs, and I spoke without looking round, thinking it was you.” ‘TY don’t know who. A Miss Hereford. She came here with Madame de Mellissie as travelling companion.” ‘“‘ But she is a stranger to Lady Chandos P” ‘‘ Entirely so.” ‘‘Then why does Lady Chandos permit her to be here? Is it well, in this house of misfortune? Is it prudent P” “ Scarcely so. Of course Lady Chandos can only hope—how you are squeezing that kitten, my dear !” “Pretty little thing! it likes to be squeezed,” responded Me Chandos. “It is hiding itself from you; from that ugly bonnet. Yoy ECOMnicoOOkKS.CoOm