The Argosy — page 268: what you’re looking at

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

Court Netherletgh. 249 perhaps could not have said she wanted much. She would walk round first, and see. Was there anything fresh? The Frenchwoman put the tip of one of her white fingers (very white they were, and displayed some valuable rings) upon the glove of her visitor, and then passed carelessly through the door to the next room. Madame Damereau certainly favoured Selina, who bought so largely of her, and never grumbled at the price. Selina understood the movement, and, stopping to look at a displayed article or two in her way, as carelessly followed her. ‘That was madame’s pet way when she was bent upon doing a good stroke of business. “Tenez—pardon, madame,” quoth she, as soon as Selina joined her, and speaking in scraps of French and English, as was her cus- tom: though she spoke both languages equally well, barring her accent of ours—which was more than could be said for the clientele, taking them collectively, and hence, perhaps, the origin of her having acquired the habit—“I have got the rarest caisse of articles arrived from Paris this morning. Ah! quwils son ravissants !” ‘What are they !” cried Selina, with breathless interest. T have not shown them to anybody: I have kept them en cachette. I said to my assistants, ‘You put that up, and don’t let it be seen till Madame Dalreemp comes. IIl-y-a une robe—une robe— une robe!” impressively repeated madame, turning up the whites of her eyes—‘‘ma chere dame, it could only have been made _ for you !” Selina’s eyes sparkled. She thought herself the especial protégée of the Damereau establishment—as many another vain woman had thought before, and would think again. “Ts it silk?” she inquired. “No. JDentelle. Mais, quelle dentelle! Elle ——” “Madame,” said one of the assistants, putting in her head and speaking in a low tone, ‘‘ the Countess wishes to see you before she leaves.” “Tam with her ladyship in the moment. Madame Dalreemp, if you are not too hurried, if you can wait till some of these ladies are gone, the caisse shall be brought out. I will not show it while they are here; I want you to have first view.” “Tam in no hurry,” replied Mrs. Dalrymple. ‘‘I have not been here for two days, so shall give myself time to look round.” As Selina did, and to gossip also. Several of her acquaintances were present. Lady Adela Grubb for one. Adela was looking a little worn and weary. <A discontented expression sat on her face, not satisfactory to see, and she evidently did not take the enraptured interest in those fine articles, displayed around, that Selina took. Of course ihey were all ‘“‘superbes” and ‘“‘ravissant,” as madame was given to observe: still ashow-room, even such a one as this, tempting though it undoubtedly is, does not bear for everyone quite the fasci- nation of the basilisk. cConniclooolks (C(O) PN