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

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

The Mystery of Allan Grale. 1g Allan Grale. But they had not; did not, in fact, seem to know who Mr. Allan Grale was; yet Mary Anne felt nearly sure that St. George’s was the hospital at which Allan had acquaintances. Mrs. Grale took a never-failing interest in the crowds in the street; and whilst Mary Anne did her fancy shopping, she would sit waiting in the carriage with more patience than she had been wont to show on similar occasions, for she was watching for a face that never passed. George Vivian spent an evening with them at the hotel. But Mary Anne somehow picked up an uncomfortable conviction that this visit might not have been paid, but for an accidental encounter. She was at a certain shop in Bond Street. It was very near their hotel, and Mary Anne had gone there earlier than the usual hour for shopping ; but she found three or four customers in the shop before her. The article she wanted was not at hand, and had to be sought for. Leisurely waiting, Miss Grale looked about her. One of the customers was a gentleman. He sat at the same side of the shop as herself, but higher up ; one or two model costumes stood on frames between them, so that all she could see of him was one foot and a walking stick. But she could see his purchases piled up on the counter. There was a cloak lined with gray squirrel; “ exactly,” thought Mary Anne, “like Maria Vivian’s.” There were two heavy folds of some fine woollen stuff, one in navy blue, the other in a rich moss green, there was a box of gloves and a soft felt bonnet with some yards of ribbon and lace. All these tempting commodities were evidently to be folded and packed for a long journey. Mary Anne felt quite interested in her feminine curiosity. But as the gentleman, his business completed, got up to leave the shop, Mary Anne saw that it was George Vivian. ‘ You are an early bargainer !” he said ; and she fancied he looked a little embarrassed. ‘‘ Have you been here long?” “Not very long,” said Mary Anne. ‘JI have not begun my bargaining yet. And now, of course you are on your way to our hotel, Mr. Vivian. Or were you going to play us so false as to be in London and not come near mamma at all?” “Why should you think me so base as that ?” he asked, laughing. “T only came up last night, and have sundry urgent commissions to execute, which I am getting through as fast as I can. [I must be in Dering again to-morrow morning. Shall you be at home this evening ?” ‘Oh, yes,” she answered. ‘‘We dine at six o'clock. Will you join us then? Papa and mamma will be delighted.” George accepted the invitation, and they parted for the time. He kept his appointment punctually. But certainly Mary Anne did not get much satisfaction out of that evening. Her own temper was rather fretted with wondering who could be so intimate with George Vivian as to trouble him with such a commission as she had seen him execute. It could not be Maria. She would not want a GOMMGIO@ S COU