The Argosy — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

The Missing Rubies. 67 or anybody who didn’t like noise! And while Beatrice was reprov ing her, Mrs. Wyville glided away. Most of the afternoon was spent in the nursery; Miss Ward was more disposed to play with the children than to talk to their mother that day. She could re-arrange all the furniture in the dolls’ house and respond to their gay chatter while her thoughts were elsewhere. And her proposal of a dolls’ tea-fight was received with loud acclama- tions. It was past four o’clock, and the tea-drinking was going on merrily, when a cab stopped before the house. A few seconds later there was a sound of heavy feet upon the stairs, and a bumping against the stairs. Madame Valerot had arrived, and her boxes were being carried up to her room. At half-past six the children were prepared for bed; and Beatrice, dressed for dinner, was sitting in the night-nursery with nurse, and listening attentively to Daisy’s prayers. Daisy, in her white night- gown, her little face framed in her bright hair, and her hands devoutly clasped, might have served as an artist’s model for a child just ready to go to heaven. It was difficult to believe that it was a very earthly little spirit which animated that small, saintly countenance; but nurse and Beatrice knew her well, and were not to be deceived by appearances for a moment. Her petitions ended, she was laid in her little white nest, smiling with a serene consciousness of duty well performed. Beatrice had derived much enjoyment from these religious exercises, and was care- fully tucking up her pupil, when the door softly opened. “TI thought I should find you here,” said Mrs. Wyville, entering. “ They are not asleep yet, I suppose? Come, Pauline, and peep at them. Let me introduce Miss Ward—Madame Valerot.” She had the most mobile face that Beatrice had ever seen. Large dark brown eyes, wonderfully soft and pleading ; a clear skin, tinted with the bloom of a peach; and bright auburn hair, cut short. Her features were small and perfectly regular; she was rather below middle height, and her figure was, perhaps, a little too full, But no critic could find fault with anything about a woman possessed of so many charms. Her dress was as perfect as her face; a black velvet gown spar- ingly trimmed with rich old lace. It seemed almost a pity to decorate such a fine throat and bust as hers, but she glittered with emeralds and diamonds. They flashed in the shape of a necklace, with pendants resting on her bosom, and sparkled in the bracelets on her plump, dimpled arms. They were too dazzling, too splendid for a quiet dinner, and Beatrice felt that her beauty would have been more admirable without them. She had the sunniest of her many smiles for the children. But Miss Ward had quick instincts, and she saw that the smile was called up for the occasion. Madame Valerot’s real interests ham in comicbooks.com