The Argosy — page 274: what you’re looking at

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

Court Netherlegh., 255. her pretty face reposing amidst its lace and its flowers, and her point-lace parasol shading it, Mrs. Dalrymple, satisfied and happy, bowed right and left to the numerous admiring faces that met and bowed to her. That same evening Madame Damereau, having dined well and taken her coffee, proceeded to her usual business with her cashier, Mrs. Cooper. <A reduced gentlewoman, who had tried the position of governess till she was heart-sick, and thankfully left it for her present situation, where she had less to doand aliberal salary. Miss Atkinson and Miss Wells, the two show-room assistants, came in. It was necessary to give Mrs. Cooper a summary of the day’s sale, that she might enter the articles. ‘They arrived, in due course, at the account of Mrs. Dalrymple. “Dress of Point d’Angleterre,” cried Madame Damereau. ‘‘ One hundred guineas.” ‘Which dress is it she has bought ?” inquired Mrs. Cooper, looking up from her writing. She had learnt to take an interest in the sales and the customers. ‘The one that the Baroness ordered for her daughter and would not have when it came,” explained madame. ‘I then sent it to the Countess of Ac-corn, who was inquiring about a lace robe yesterday morning: but it seems she did not keep it. She never knows her own mind two hours together, that Milady Ac-corn.” “‘Tt is a very nice dress,” remarked Mrs. Cooper. “Tt is a beauty,” added Miss Atkinson. ‘And Lady Acorn need not have cried it down.” ‘Did she cry it down ?” quickly asked madame. ‘¢ She said it was as dear as fire’s hot.” “Par exemple!” uttered madame, with a flashing face. ‘“ Did she say that ?” ‘Ves, madame. So Roberts told me when he brought it back.” ‘¢ She’s the most insolent customer we have, that Femme Ac-corn,” exploded madame. ‘‘ And pays the worst. The robe would have been cheap at the price I asked her—eighty guineas.” “Mrs. Dalrymple, lace robe, one hundred guineas,” read Mrs. Cooper. ‘‘ What else—making ?” ‘“ Making, two guineas. Peach glacé slip comes next.” ‘“‘ Peach glacé slip,” wrote Mrs. Cooper. ‘‘ The price, if you please ?” ‘Put it down in round figures. Ten guineas. She did not ask.” ‘‘T sold her those morning sleeves with the little dots,” interposed Miss Wells. ‘‘ There was no price mentioned, madame.” “What were they marked?” asked madame. “ Fourteen and sixpence.” “Put them down at a guinea, Mrs. Cooper. Making peach glacé slip—let me see, no lining or trimming—say fourteen shillings. White point-lace bonnet, thirteen guineas; Sleeves and collar—what did I say for that, Miss Wells ? ” COMIC OOO SS (C(O)