The Argosy — page 206: what you’re looking at

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

194 Rupert's Chotce. - cotour sketch of Rupert as a child, with his dog and pony, which had always hung in her own room ; and I only hoped that the girl who was on her way to Helmsleigh might be able to appreciate'all the accu- mulated tokens of delicate welcome. IT. ‘WE will drive over to Newbury this afternoon, I “think, Jane, and meet Miss Herries,” said Mrs. Loraine after luncheon. ‘Saunders, tell Johnson to bring the carriage round in time for us to meet the 4.45 train. The cart must go for Miss Herries’ luggage.” This was unquestionably the right thing to do, but, unfortunately, } about ten minutes before we ought to have set off, the old Earl and Countess of D. came to call. They were the great people of the county, he being the Lord Lieutenant ; they were also old friends, and they had driven many miles to congratulate Mrs. Loraine on her son’s engagement, which had gradually become public news. There was no choice in the matter. Mrs. Loraine desired Saunders to tell the coach- man to be sure to be in time for the train, and the footman to say to Miss Herries that she was sorry to be prevented from going to meet her; and then she passed on to the drawing-room to receive her guests and beg them to have their carriage put up for an hour or two. When they found that Miss Herries was expected on a first visit that very day, they ordered their carnage before the hour when she might be expected to arrive ; but there had been some little delay in the stables, and they were later than they intended to be, so that they drove from the house as the returning carriage drove up to it, and we heard no second sound of wheels. Our first intimation of the arrival was the door being thrown wide open by Saunders, who announced, in his most _ imposing manner—“ Miss Herries ! ” There entered a girl, who certainly was tall, slight, and dark haired, but in every other respect was as unlike as possible what I had hoped to see. She was handsome, for she had a bnilliant complexion, fine eyes, and rather good features ; but, nevertheless, her appearance was a shock tome. Her hair was cut straight across her forehead, Gains- borough fashion, and was in a inass of tangled curls behind: what there might be defween I could not tell, for there was a high Tyrolese hat on the top of the erection. Hereyes were more or less ‘“‘ touched,” I was sure. She had very high-heeled shoes, and her dress, which was of the dark blue cambric with white spots so fashionable last summer, fell in heavy pleated folds about her feet, and was fastened back very tightly and looped up very fussily. Altogether, she looked as if she had stepped out of a Plate of Fashions as to costume, and was mentally and morally more adapted to stand behind a refreshment counter than to be Rupert’s wife! I could see that Mrs. Loraine recerved an un- ecomniclooolkks _ (CO)