The Argosy — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

60 Number Twenty-five. was born. It’s a scandal, sir, that the law doesn’t interfere when a man makes such a fool of himself.” Old gentleman Number Two didn’t seem interested, and the subject dropped. ‘he afternoon express brought down an omnibus load of ‘ Saturday to Monday” visitors to the Imperial. ‘The Losebys did not appear - at dinner, rather to my disappointment. I was beginning to feel curiously interested in them, and to spend odd moments in wondering how the marriage had come about; what had become of the little son, and divers other unprofitable speculations. ‘There was a constant bustle of fresh arrivals by every train that evening, and the drawine- room was well filled. <A ‘“‘ professional” on a holiday had taken pos- session of the piano, and was giving ‘‘ reminiscences and imitations ” of divers musical stars rather cleverly when I entered, and prominent amongst his audience were Mr. and Mrs. Loseby. She was resplen- dent as usual, and his attentions as lover-like. How much of genuine was there in them I wondered, as I placed myself in the shadow of a window-curtain unobserved by either, though I was near enough to catch snatches of their conversation in the pauses of the music. ‘Not very select here? I dare say not; but I am zo¢ going to my room just yet. It’s not worth dressing just to come down and be hurried up again. I find it too dull to put up with for long.” “We will stay here as long as you please, dearest,” he murmured, with a black scowl. I lost the rest of his sentence. ‘““ Well, there’s the ladies’ drawing-room—You can’t object to that. You may bring me my work there,” was her reply. She handed him her fan, her mousquetaire gloves, her bunch of big white violets. He dropped a filmy white wrap carefully round her shoulders, and they passed from amongst us. I had the curiosity to look into the ladies’ drawing-room an hour or two later. It was about as lively as a station waiting-room. Mrs. Loseby sat listless and cross, in a big chair, her hands folded idly on the crewel work in her lap. She looked so chagrined and at odds with life in general, that I was touched, and unwitting of etiquette, entered, and made my way to her. ‘“T want to show you something, and ask if you are very much offended with me,” I said, producing my little sketch of her. ‘Oh, you clever, dreadful creature! I shall never forgive you, never! What a sweet thing you have made of it!” was the lady’s response. ‘‘ But it’s too utterly flattering; you have made me look young—actually young and happy.” ‘And why not?” was the fitting rejoinder. She gave me one of her glances. ‘‘Why, I’m ever so old,” she tittered, ‘Sand happy ° ah, no one knows what I have gone through! Riches and rank aren’t everything, Mr. Sherratt ; and Losthaven isn’t exactly the place to get one’s spirits up in, either.” Gomicbooksneo