The Argosy — page 365: what you’re looking at

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

THE ARGoSY.] Anne Hereford. 343 could not hear the words, but I could the tones; they were authorita- tive, as was his manner. He was evidently the master. I thought I had seen him before, for there was something in his figure, and even in the passing sight of his face, which struck upon me as being familiar. I waited for him to turn again, that I might obtain a, better view; but he did not, and soon wentin. I returned toa bench near the broad open walk, and opened my book. Presently Mr. Chan- dos came up, and asked what I was reading. “ Are you fond of Shakspeare ?” he questioned, when he knew. ‘“‘T have never read his works, sir.” “‘ Never read Shakspeare!” he cried, inastonishment. “You cannot mean that, Miss Hereford ?” ‘* But, sir, I have always been at school And school-girls have no Opportunity of obtaining such works. At my English school, Miss Fen- ton’s, there were some volumes of Shakspeare in the governess’s private parlour ; but I never saw anything of them but their backs.” ‘* Have you never read Byron P” ““Oh, no.” “Nor any novels ?” ““Not any books of that kind.” He looked at me with a half smile, standing with his back against a tree. “I think I understood from my sister that you are an orphan ?” ‘“* Yes, sir.” “‘ Have you no home?” ‘“‘T have neither home nor relatives. The place that seems more like a home to me than any other is Mademoiselle Barlieu’s, at Nulle. I was there four years.” “Did you never get any French novels there P” “Indeed no. The Miss Barlieus would have been in fits at the bare thought. And since I left them, I have been too fully occupied to read for recreation. This is the first leisure time I have had for nearly as long as I can remember.” ‘““Indeed! It must seem strange to you.” ‘¢ So strange, sir, that I feel like a fish out of water.” ‘*Mr. Chandos laughed. ‘ Did you visit much, when you were at Nulle 2” ‘No, sir. I had nota friend in the town. ‘Towards the last, Miss Annette would sometimes take me when she went out to spend the evening.” ““Will you allow me to direct your reading, Miss Hereford?” he returned, after a pause. “Oh, sir, if you would!” I answered eagerly. ‘For in truth that library seems to me like a wild sea, with its multitude of books.” “Yes; and a young lady might get amidst shoals, for all the books are not equally worthy. I will look out a few and give them to you.” comicloooks (CO) mn _