The Argosy — page 256: what you’re looking at

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

242 A Secret of the Sea. that might be made to follow “‘ in sequence due” this one bold step. | As in a vision, she had seen the whole glittering pageant. No longer would she be compelled to content herself with a miserable three weeks in London: she would have a whole glorious season to flutter through. She would have a new brougham, and there should be no handsomer horses than hers seen in the park. As for garden parties and flower shows, as for the opera and the theatre—she would simply do her best to make up for lost time. Poor Sir Thomas, when he allowed him- self, very much against his will, to be nominated at the hustings in place of the late lamented Mr. Rackstraw, had not the faintest notion of the splendid conceptions which even then were fermenting in his wife’s brain. But he had not been many days in London before he got some glimmering of what was in store for him. “I feel, dear, as if we had been buried all those years—as if we had never really begun to enjoy life till now,” said her ladyship to him one morning at breakfast. “And yet it seems to me that we have spent many happy days at Stammars,” returned Sir Thomas. ‘Happy, after a fashion, of course; but so different from life here !” continued her ladyship. “‘ Different indeed!” echoed Sir Thomas, with a sigh. ‘¢ To-morrow is my birthday, Thomas; and as you always make me a present on that occasion, I want you, this year, to let me choose for myself what it shall be.” “‘ Certainly, Matilda. I shall be most happy for you to do so.” ‘That noble heart of yours! What I want 1s that you shall take me to Long Acre, and buy me a new carriage.” “ Good gracious, Matilda ! ” “ As the wife of the member for Pembridge, I could not think of being seen about London in a hired brougham ; neither, I am sure, would you wish me to do anything so paltry.” ‘“ But the landau at Stammars—if painted and furbished up——” ‘¢ A market-cart, my dear—neither more nor less than a market-cart,” cried Lady Dudgeon. “I should be the laughing-stock of the Park. No ; if you cannot afford me a new brougham out of your legacy, why, I'll go about ina hansom. I'd far rather do that than be seen in one of those horrid livery-stable abominations, which always put mein mind of fevers and other dreadful things.” When in London, Sir Thomas was always one of the most wretched of men—indeed, a town of any kind was to him a place to be escaped from as quickly as possible. To him it was ever a mystery how people could be found to dwell contentedly for years among acres ot brick and mortar, inhaling diluted smoke, and leading lives that were one perpetual round of noise, turmoil, and confusion. He had not been in London more than three days before there came over him a COMIC OOOKS.EO _