The Argosy — page 274: what you’re looking at

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

216 ‘Miss Oldham’s Chotce. Here is my card. Will you be good enough to enquire whether it Is Convenient ?” “Certainly, ma’am,” replied the man, somewhat abashed by the grand air of this lady. He disappeared into the house, and, mear- time, Miss Oldham cast her eyes round, and also approved of the hall. Her quick glance discerned at once that these buffalo antlers over the inner door would have been better, less prominently placed, more to the side ; but that, she assured herself, could be easily done ; and then she fell to admiring the cornice. The footman had gone straight through this hall into another; and then, having opened a heavy door to the left, went softly across a thick, velvet-pile carpet, to where a gentleman was writing at a table. ‘I beg your pardon, sir,” he began, apologetically, ‘ but, if yoa please, a lady insists on examining the house. She says she has an order to see over it. I think there must be some mistake.” “What!” exclaimed the writer, laying down his pen and putting out his hand for the card the footman was holding. ‘“ See over my house! Very obliging of the lady.” And then he stared for a long time at the card. ‘There must be some mistake, sir,” the footman again ventured at last. ‘*The lady mentioned she would wish to see nothing further than the dining-room and drawing-room.” ‘“‘ Very considerate of the lady,” was the reply. ‘* But show her in, if you please.” And then he returned at once to his writing. The footman disappeared noiselessly in quest of the lady. The writer at the desk made no change in his position ; and there was no change on his face, except for the appearance of a faint smile hover- ing about the corners of his mouth. The smile was still there when he rose, as the door opened once again. There was a momentary blank pause of amazement on the part of the lady, who had just come in ; then ‘an exclamation in atone which said a good deal more than amazement “ Dr. Werner.! ” He bowed and moved a small chair towards her, and, after another slight pause, she mechanically sat down. He seated himself, too, upon the sofa opposite to her. ‘‘T think,” said he, “that you wish to see the house.” Miss Oldham had begun to recover hefself a little and to wonder how the mistake in the order could have arisen. - - It was a strange thing, but that same order positively trembled in her hand, as if reverberating from some shock; and Miss Oldham’s hand was little given to trembling. She put it down on her knee, and answered very quietly : “T only wanted to have a momentary glance at the drawing-room and dining-room to-day—nothing further. I'am rather tired. I find the sun so oppressive.” Dr. Werner stretched out his long arm behind him and quietly pulled down the dark green blind. CONNEC MOOOKS.CO @ im