The Argosy — page 349: what you’re looking at

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

Lhe Master of Greylands. 329 sat down on the bench outside the house. The window of the sitting- room, occupied by John Bent and his wife, stood open—for Mrs. Bent liked plenty of fresh air. On that same bench had sat more than once her unfortunate husband, looking at the water as she was looking, at the fishermen on the beach, at the boats out at sea, their white sails at rest in the calm of the sunshiny day. She was mentally questioning what else she could try, now that her mission to the Grey Sisters had failed, and wondering how little she and Marie could live upon, if she got nothing to do. Gradualiy the talking became clearer to her ear. She heard the landlady’s voice and another voice: not John Bent’s, but the young, free, ready voice of a gentleman. It was in truth Harry Castlemaime’s ; who, passing the inn, had turned in for a gossip. “Tt seems to me like a great sacrifice, Mr. Harry,” were the first dis- tinct words that fellon Madame Guise’s ear. ‘“ The Grey Ladies are very good and noble, next door to angels, I’m sure, when folks are sick ; but it is not the right life for Miss Castlemaine to take to.” “We told her so until we were tired of telling it,” returned Harry Castlemaine. “It has cut up my father grievously. We will drop the subject, Mrs. Bent: I cannot speak of it with patience yet. How is the sick child getting on?” “ As well as can be, sir. She is just now upstairs in her mid-day sleep. ‘Talking of children, though,” broke off Mrs. Bent, ‘“ what is this mishap that has happened to Miss Flora, sir? We hear she met with some accident yesterday.” ‘“‘Mounted to the top of the gardener’s ladder and fell off it,” said Harry with equanimity. ‘She is always in mischief.” ‘‘ And was she hurt, sire” “Not much. Grazed her face in a few places and put her wnist out. She will come to greater grief unless they get somebody to take care of her. Having been so long without a governess, the young damsel is hike a.wild colt.” ‘The last time Mrs. Castlemaine was in here, Mr. Harry, she told me she had just engaged a governess. It must be a fortnight ago.”"& ‘‘ And so she had engaged one; but the lady was taken ill and threw up the situation. Mrs. Castlemaine is hard to please in the matter of governesses. She must have perfect French and perfect music: and the two, combined with other requisite qualifications, seem difficult to find. Mrs. Castlemaine was talking this morning of advertising for one.” “Dear me! to think that such a fine place as that should be going a begging!” cried the landlady. ‘A gentleman’s home and a plenty of comfort in it, and—and however much pay 1s it, a year, Mr. Harry ?” ‘ Fifty guineas, I think,” said the young man carelessly, as though fifty guinea salaries were an every day trifle. Mrs. Bent lifted her hands and eyes. COMIC OOOKS. EO