The Argosy — page 255: what you’re looking at

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

236 Mrs. Carr’s Companion. “And, oh, dear! I am afraid we are beginning to gossip. I really think we had better say no more about it. Perhaps Mrs. Bythesea will be kind enough to read us a little more about ‘England’s Royal Home.’ I am sure we shall all like that.” CHAPTER XVII. HOME, Lapy Mary was growing stronger and better every day, yet she still clung to the seclusion of her own room, and showed a strange reluctance to mix with the world again—her world whose sympathetic speech or significant silence would alike be atrial. But there was one inevitable ordeal which must be gone through—the first interview with Mrs. Carr, and the time came when it could no longer be put off. Poor Lady Mary made up her mind to the effort, and one morning when Olive came into her room after breakfast, she said, with a faint attempt at cheerfulness: ‘I feel better than usual to-day, Olive. I think I will go and see your aunt presently.” ‘Are you sure you are equal to it, mother dear?” Olive asked, anxiously. Both were conscious of a feeling that the inter- view must needs be a trying one. “Ves; I shall not stay long. And you must come with me, Olive,” said Lady Mary, with a weary sigh. So at noon the visit was made in semi-regal fashitans Olive announcing it beforehand with some ceremony, and then returning to escort her mother, who looked queenly and stately as ever in her grey morning négligé. But Mrs. Carr could not but perceive the lines which mental suffering had traced upon the placid face since she had last seen it, and subdued for the moment by the dignity of erief, her greeting was given in a gentler tone than of old. If the wind had not been in the east, and if the talk could have been kept to indifferent topics there might have been little to complain of, but the discussion of home affairs was inevitable sooner or later, and presently it came. ‘Well, Mary, this is a pretty piece of business! I am not sur- prised you should look so old and worn. It certainly is not pleasant to have the Egerton name dragged through the mire, and the Egerton doings in everyone’s mouth, from baker boys to dressmakers’ apprentices.” Poor Lady Mary sighed. Mrs. Carr continued, deaf to the appeal to her generosity made by her sister-in-law’s pale face and quivering lip. ‘‘T always expected something of the kind; and now, forsooth, Olive must needs make us another nine-days’ wonder by marrying an insignificant person that neither you nor I would have looked at in our day, Mary! I suppose he is what people call a ‘rough Gomicbooks (E(@) m