The Argosy — page 209: what you’re looking at

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

A Marriage from the Stage. 195 her; the way in which they exhibited their good-natured curiosity, was trying to a sensitive and high-spirited woman. The men dis- coursed on the weather and the local interests very much as a modern soldier might discuss the present system of war adminis- tration with a lately revivified human fossil from the ruins of Troy. Claudia was pleasant and affable to all, but her heart was sore after Italy ; she longed for the renewal of her hard but congenial life of Bohemian and singer. Her nature was strong and impulsive ; she found it almost impossible to adapt herself quiescently to her surroundings, and she met with no help from those about her. Mrs. Raughan was sitting in the room in which we are now, one afternoon in spring, when Gabriel announced Mrs. Brunswold, with that peculiar intonation which meant: “ Here is the woman you dis- like ; I know it, and would send her away if I could.” Mrs. Brunswold was always calling, and Claudia rose with very little energy and said to the retreating valet : “‘ Tell your master that Mrs. Brunswold is here,” and there was a shadow of sarcasm in. her voice. Arthur came in, and the talk turned upon the gossip round about ; the new master of the hounds, his pedigree, and whether the horse he rode at the last meet was his own or a hired hack, and such-like details of thrilling interest. Perhaps of all her new acquaintances Claudia disliked Mrs. Brunswold the most, partly because Arthur was perpetually holding the woman up as a model of all that was admirable and pleasing. It was painful to one who was fully aware of her incapacity in this particular walk of life. And again, partly that the woman seemed to régard her—Claudia—as a mistake, as a Moloch to whom Arthur Raughan had, in a moment of folly, sacrificed his happiness. However, Mrs. Raughan made an effort to join in the conversa- tion ; but, finding it too deep for her, she sat silently toying with . her handkerchief, unconscious that she was stripping the lace off the border. Mrs. Brunswold’s loud voice paused for an instant, and catching sight of Claudia’s guitar, she called out in her Southern brogue : “T’ve got to go in a moment, Mrs. Raughan, but do give us something with your guitar first. I am dying to hear it.” Claudia knew perfectly well that the good dame didn’t know one note from another; but to please her husband’s guest she smiled graciously and took the guitar from Arthur's hands. “I don’t suppose you will like the music I sing,” she couldn’t help saying, as she turned towards Mrs. Brunswold. “Nonsense, Claudia; Mrs. Brunswold can appreciate anything. Sing something neither too sad nor too sentimental.” “I must sing what I know,” laughed Claudia; and she began “Une Nuit d’Eté.”’ comicbooks.com