The Argosy — page 347: what you’re looking at

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

The Master of Greylands. 327 ‘“‘Why ! should you, ma’am!” returned the landlady briskly. ‘‘ Well, it’s a nice place.” “TI like the sea—and I should wish my little one to remain quiet now. I have suffered too much anxiety on her account to take her travelling again just yet.” “Sweet little thing!” aspirated Mrs. Bent. ‘“ Her pretty rosy colour 1s beginning to come back to her cheeks again. I’ve never seen a child with a brighter.” “It is like her—lke that of some of our relatives: they have a bright colour,” said Madame Guise, who only just saved herself from saying—like her father’s. ‘‘ For her sake I will remain here for some two or three months. Do you think I could get an apartment ? ” “An apartment!” repeated Mrs. Bent, who took the word literally, and was somewhat puzzled at it. “ Did you mean one single room, ma’am ?” “‘T mean two or three rooms—as might be enough. Ora small house—what you call a cottage.” “Oh I see, ma’am,” said the landlady. ‘I think you might do that. some of the larger cottages let rooms in the summer to people coming over here from Stilborough for the sea air. And there’s one or two pretty cottages empty on the cliff.” “Would the rent of one be much?” asked Madame Guise, timorously. “Next to nothing at this season,” spoke Mrs. Bent, confidently. ‘‘ Here, John Bent—where are you?” she cried, flinging open the door. ‘‘ What's the rent of that place ” “ Master’s out,” interrupted Molly, coming from the back kitchen to speak. “Just like him!” retorted Mrs. Bent. ‘ He is out when he’s wanted, and at home when he’s not.” The cottage she alluded to had a sitting-room, a kitchen, and two bed-chambers, and was situated in the most picturesque part of all the cliff, close to the neatly kept cottage that had so long been inhabited by Miss Hallet and her very pretty miece. It was plainly furnished, and might be let at this season, including steel kmives and forks, for fifteen shillings a week. Insummer the rent would be twenty-five ; and the tenant had to find linen. With the rent, and the cost of a servant, and housekeeping, and various little extras that are somehow never computed beforehand, but that rise up inevitably afterwards, Madame Guise saw that the sum total would be more than she could command. And she hesitated to take the cottage. “Tf I could but earn a little money!” she repeated to herself. ‘I wonder whether those good ladies at the Grey Nunnery could help me ! I have a great mind to ask them.” | She went over to doso. It was a warm, pleasant day,; for the *% ECOMicoOOKS.CoOm