The Argosy — page 339: what you’re looking at

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

314 Shadow and Substance. ‘Millionaire, pooh! a sham, sir, a most iniquitous sham. How he managed to keep afloat so long is a puzzle to everyone; but now the bubble’s burst, the house in Park Lane in the market, and not a stick of furniture paid for.” ‘‘And Gertrude—Muiss Trevelyan, how does she bear it ?” ‘Ah, rather a come down for her, isn’t it?” chuckled Gabbleton, maliciously. ‘* Match broken off, of course, and Mrs. Mortimer’s poky drawing-room in Bryanston Street, instead of a boudoir looking on the park. But I wouldn’t pity her if I were you. She’s nota Calypso, qui ne pouvait se consoler, you know.” ‘Tommy was proud of his French, which he spoke with an accent atrociously savouring of home manufacture. ‘ Quite the reverse, I should say. Depend upon it, she has a substitute in her eye already ; and Heaven help him, whoever he is! Return to her first love, perhaps,” he added, with a side glance at Torrens. With which reflection the little man bustled away in search of fresh listeners, while Torrens beguiled the monotony of a solitary dinner by pondering over the strange news he had just heard, and counting the hours which still separated him from Annie. Some four months later, a party of six. were assembled at dinner in one of the prettiest detached villas of South Kensington, the residence of the widowed Mrs. Thornton. It was their first family gathering since the coming home of Egerton and his bride from their honey- moon trip, and included, in addition to the hostess, the young couple and Fred, Captain Augustus Torrens, of the Blues, who had officiated as best man at the wedding, and Annie’s bosom friend, Carrie Wetherell, a lively little brunette who had also figured on that auspicious occasion in the character of bridesmaid. With such congenial elements it is needless to say that the con- versation never flagged for an instant. The captain was in high feather, and kept up a running fire of “chaff” with Miss Carrie, which that damsel, nothing loth, returned with interest; while Mrs. Thornton, with maternal solicitude, was busily engaged in discussing with Annie the important question of “ ways and means,’ “JT am so glad, darling,” she said, “that you like the house I have taken for you.” It is perfectly delightful, mamma. Think how nice for me to be so near you when Egerton is at his chambers.” “Chambers!” interrupted Captain Augustus, glancing at the speaker with real or affected amazement. ‘What does a married man want with chambers? ” “ Annie doesn’t approve of my leading an idle life,” said his brother, demurely. ‘So I intend to put my shoulder to the wheel, and Fred will pass me a brief now and then, when he has any to spare.” This allusion to Mr. Frederick Thornton, who, though some years Egerton’s senior at the bar, had hitherto signally failed in convincing Gomicbooks (EC) nm é