The Argosy — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

Featherston’s Story. 31 done, Ann. I wrote yesterday to Mary Cardiac, asking her about Sainteville ; whether she thinks it will suit us, and so on. As soon as her answer comes—she’s certain to say yes—we will go, dear, and leave Mrs. Magnus to her grandeur. And, once we are safe away, J shall write her a letter,’ added Lavinia, in decisive tones. ‘* A letter which she won’t like.” Madame Cardiac’s answer camé by return of post. It was as cordial as herself. Sainteville would be the very place for them, she said, and she should count the hours until they were there. The Miss Preens turned their backs upon Tours, shaking its dust off their shoes. Lavinia had a little nest of accumulated money, so was at ease in that respect. And when the evening of the following day the railway terminus at Sainteville was reached, the pleasant, smiling face of Mary Cardiac was the first they saw outside the barriére. She must have been nearly forty now, but she did not look a day older than when she had left Buttermead. Miss Lavinia was a year or two older than Mary ; Miss Ann a year or two younger. ‘You must put up at the Hétel des Princes,” remarked Madame Cardiac. “It is the only really good one in the town. They won’t charge you too much; my husband has spoken to the landlady. And you must spend to-morrow with me.” The hotel omnibus was waiting for them and other passengers, the luggage was piled on the roof, and Madame Cardiac accompanied them to the hotel. A handsome hotel, the sisters thought ; quite another thing from the one at Tours, Mary Cardiac introduced them to the landlady, Madame Padevin, saw them seated down to tea and a cold fowl, and then left for the night. With Sainteville the Miss Preens were simply charmed. It was a fresh, clean town, with wide streets, and good houses and old families, and some bright shops. The harbour was large, and the pier extended out to the open sea. | “TI should like to live here!” exclaimed Miss Lavinia, sitting down at Madame Cardiac’s, in a state of rapture. ‘“‘I never saw such a nice town, or such a lovely market.” They had been about all the morning with Madame Cardiac. It was market-day, Wednesday. The market was held on the Grande Place ; and the delicious butter, the eggs, the fresh vegetables, the flowers, and the poultry, took Miss Lavinia’s heart by storm. Nancy was more taken with the picturesque market women, in their white caps and long gold ear-rings. Other ladies were doing their market- ings as well as Madame Cardiac. She spoke with most of them, in French or in English, as the case might be. Under the able tuition of her husband, she spoke French fluently now. Madame Cardiac’s habitation—very nice, small and compact-——-was in Rue de la Pomme Cuite. The streets have queer names in some of these old French towns. It was near the college, which was convenient for M. Cardiac. Here they lived, with their elderly GOnnGaoOo SS CO