The Argosy — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

86 The Master of Greylands. Mr. Castlemaine took up the letters, and read them. ‘I should say she is just the sort of person for Flora,” he observed. ‘“ The testi- monials are excellent.” ‘But her want of French! Did you not observe that?” “ T don’t know that French is of so much consequence for Flora as the getting a suitable person to control her. One who will hold h under firm discipline. As it 1s, she is being ruined.” “French not of consequence for Flora!” repeated Mrs. Castlemaine. ‘¢'What can you mean, James ?”’ ‘I said it was not of so much consequence, relatively speaking. Neither is it.” ‘¢ And while Ethel’s French 1s perfect !” ‘¢ What has that to do with it?” ‘I will never submit to see Flora inferior in accomplishments to Ethel, James. French I hold especially by. Better, of the two, for _ her to fail in music than in speaking French. If it were not for Ethel’s senseless whim of continuing to take music lessons, there would be no trouble.” ‘‘Who’s this, I wonder?” cried Mr. Castlemaine. He alluded toa visitor’s ring at the hall bell. Flora came dashing in. ‘Tt’s a gentleman in a fur coat,” she said. “I saw himcome up the walk.” ‘A gentleman in a fur coat!” repeated her mother. ‘Some one who has walked from Stilborough this cold day, I suppose.” Miles entered. On his small silver waiterlay acard. He presented it to his master, and spoke: ‘“‘The gentleman says he wishes to see you, sir. I have shown him into the drawing-room.” The Master of Greylands was gazing at the card with knitted brow and haughty lips. He did not understand the name on it. ‘What farce is this?” he exclaimed, tossing the card on the table in anger. And Mrs. Castlemaine bent to read it with aroused curiosity. “ Anthony Castlemaine.” ‘It must be an old card of your father’s, James,” she remarked. -“ Given, perhaps years ago, to some one to send in, should he ever require to present himself here—perhaps to crave a favour.” This view, just at the moment it was spoken, seemed feasible enough to Mr. Castlemaine, and his brow lost its fierceness. Another minute, and he saw how untenable it was. “ My father never had such a card as this, Sophia. Plain ‘ Anthony Castlemaine,’ without hold or handle. His cards had ‘ Mr.’ before the name. And look at the strokes and flourishes ! What sort of a person is it, Miles ?” ‘A youngish sort of gentleman, sir. He has a lot of dark fur on (C(O) —_) his coat. He asked for Mr. James Castlemaine.” COMUICIOOOKKS