The Argosy — page 363: what you’re looking at

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

aye sano Anne Hereford. 341 do wear frightful bonnets, Mrs. Freeman; as ugly as the black ones of Lady Chandos.” “I do not think widows’ bonnets ugly,” was the reply of Mrs. Free- man. “To some faces they are particularly becoming.” “They are so ugly, so disfiguring, that I hope it will be long before I am called upon to wear them,” returned Mrs. Chandos, speaking im- pulsively. ‘‘Were my husband to die—but there! I know what you want to say; why do I dwell upon trifles when heavy calamities are on the house ?” “Suppose you walk about the gallery, my dear?” suggested Mrs. Freeman. “TI see no chance of the rain’s leaving off.” ‘No, Dll go back and take my things off, and play with pussy. Poor pussy wanted a walk in the grounds as muchasI did. ‘Oh”—witha shnek—‘ it’s gone !” For the kitten, allured, perhaps, by the attractions of a promenade in the grounds, had leaped from the arms of Mrs. Chandos on to a shrub below. I saw it from my window. The shriek brought out Mr. Chandos from the house; he looked up. ‘My kitten, Harry,” she said. “It has flown away from me. Get it, will you? But I am sorry to give you the trouble.” Mr. Chandos took the kitten from the bush and once more looked up; at my window as well as at theirs. “Who will come for it? Will you, Miss Hereford ?—and oblige my —oblige Mrs. Chandos.” ) Oblige my—what? Was he going to say “sister-in-law” when he suddenly stopped himself? But, if so, why should he have stopped himself? And how can she be his sister-in-law ? Were she the wife of Sir Thomas, she would be Lady Chandos; and Emily had said her brother Thomas was not marred. She had said she had but two brothers, Thomas and Harry ; who, then, was this young Mrs. Chandos? That she had a husband living was apparent, from the conversation I had just heard; and I had imagined all along that she must be the daughter-in-law of Lady Chandos. These thoughts passed through my head as I ran down for the kitten. Mr. Chandos handed it to me, and turned away, for he was called to by some one at a distance. At the same moment the kitten was taken from my hands, It was by Mrs. Freeman, who had also come down. ‘JT hope it 1s not hurt, poor thing,” she said, looking at it. “It seems lively enough.” ‘¢Mr. Chandos said it was not hurt, when he gave it to me.” “Qh, that’s nght. Had it been hurt, Mrs. Chandos would have grieved over it. She is fond of this kitten; and she has so few plea- sures, poor child !” ‘“Who ts Mrs. Chandos ?” I asked, in a low tone. ‘Madam Pe” returned Mrs. Freeman. comicloooks (CO)