The Argosy — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

Featherston’s Story. 39 future tenants through the interpretation of Mary Cardiac, offering to be useful to them in any way she could. Lavinia and Ann Preen both signed the bail, or agreement, and Madame Veuve Sauvage likewise signed it ; by virtue of which she became their landlady, and they her tenants of the little house for five years. Madame Cardiac, and a shopman who came upstairs for the purpose, signed as witnesses. Wine and the little cakes called pistolets were then introduced ; and so-the bargain was complete. , Oh! if some kindly spirit from the all-seeing world above could only have whispered a hint to those ill-fated sisters of what they were doing |—had only whispered a warning in time to prevent it! Might not that horror, which fell upon Lavinia as she was about to pass over the door-sill, have served her as such? But who regards these warnings when they come to us? who personally applies them ? None. Having purchased or hired the additional things required, the Miss Preens took possession of their house. Nancy had the front bed- chamber, which Lavinia thought rather the best, and so gave it up to her; Lavinia took the back one. The one opposite, with the skylight, remained unoccupied, as their servant did not sleep in the house. Not at all an uncommon custom at Sainteville. An excellent servant had been found for them in the person of Flore Pamart, a widow, who was honest, cooked well, and could talk away in English: all recommendations that the ladies liked. Flore let herself in with a latch-key before breakfast, and left as soon after five o’clock in the evening as she could get the dinner things removed. Madame Flore Pamart had one little boy named Dion, who went to school by day, but was at home night and morning; for which reason his mother could only take a daily service. Thus the Miss Preens became part of the small colony of English at Sainteville. They took sittings in the English Protestant church, which was not much more than a room; and they subscribed to the casino on the port when it opened for the summer season, spending many an evening there, listening to the music, watching the dancing when there was any, and chattering with the acquaintances they met. They were well regarded, these new-comers, and they began to speak French after a fashion. Now and then they went out toa soirée ; once ina way gave one in return. Very sober soirées indeed were those of Sainteville ; consisting (as Sam Weller might inform us) of tea at seven o'clock with hot galette, conversation, cake at ten (gateau Suisse or gateau au rhum), and a glass of Picardin wine. They were pleased with the house, once they had settled down in it, and never a shadow of regret crossed either of them for having taken the little Maison Rouge. In this way about a twelyemonth wore on, GOnnGaoOo SS “g ; ’