The Argosy — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

Verena Fontaine’s Rebellion. 123 and Pym occupied the same apartments in each house: the parlour and the little bed-room behind it. The parlour was in darkness, save for what light came into it from the street gas lamp, for these shutters were not closed. Ferrar went into the passage and shouted out for the landlady, Mrs. Richenough, I thought it an odd name. She came in from the kitchen at the end of the passage, carrying a candle. A neat little woman with grey hair and a puckered face; the sleeves of her brown gown were rolled up to the elbows, and she wore a check apron. ‘Mr. Pym, sir?” she said, in answer to Ferrar. ‘‘ He dressed his- self and went out when he’d swallowed down his tea. He always do go out, sir, the minute he’s swallowed it.” ‘Do you expect him back to-night ?” questioned Jack. ‘‘ Why yes, sir, I suppose so,” she answered. ‘‘ He mostly comes in about eleven.” ‘‘ Has any young lady been here this evening, ma’am ?” blandly continued Jack. ‘With Mr. Pym ?—or to enquire for him ?” Mrs. Richenough resented the question. ‘‘A young lady!” she repeated, raising her voice. ‘‘ Well, I’m sure! what next ?” ‘Take care: it 1s our Captain who speaks to you,” whispered Ferrar in her ear; and the old woman dropped a curtsey to Jack. Captains are captains with the old landladies in Ship Street. ‘‘Mr. Pym’s sister—or cousin,” amended Jack. ‘¢ And it’s humbly asking pardon of you, sir. I’m sure I took it to mean one of them fly-away girls that would like to be running after our young officers continual. No, sir; no young lady has been here for Mr. Pym, or with him.” ‘We can wait a little while to see whether he comes in, I presume, ma’am,” said Jack. Intimating that Mr. Pym’s Captain was welcome to wait the whole night if he pleased, Mrs. Richenough lighted the lamp that stood on the table, shut the shutters, and made Jack another curtsey as she withdrew. “Do you wish me to remain, sir?” asked Mark. ‘* Not at all,” was the Captain’s answer. ‘‘ There will be a good deal to do to-morrow, Mr. Ferrar: mind you are not late in getting on board.” ‘“‘ No fear, sir,” replied Ferrar. And he left us waiting. JounNy LUDLOW. GOMIGIOOKSHGO im