The Argosy — page 173: what you’re looking at

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

158 A Glove’s Evidence. On her return—it was almost her dinner hour, and Margaret was assisting at her toilette—she said: ‘‘I met with quite an adventure to-day, Johnson! ‘The heat was so dreadful in that close, stuffy gal- lery, I nearly fainted. I had to have water and smelling salts brought to me, and at last was obliged to be assisted downstairs. One of the bar- risters, in his wig and gown—such a handsome fellow, I had noticed him before—happened to be standing at the bottom of the stairs, and ordered me to be taken into a nice cool room. He was so polite that when I came round I inquired his name. He said it was Charles Bywell. ‘Related to Canon Bywell?’ I asked, and he told me he was his nephew and only living relative. J expect to see something more of Mr. Bywell,” she added, smiling significantly, as she looked at herself in the glass, “‘and then, no doubt, I shall have some news for you concerning your old patron, Johnson.” Had her ladyship been less occupied with her toilette and her own thoughts, she might have remarked the deep blush, succeeded by a deathly palor on the face of her usually calm attendant. ‘Twice Mar- garet attempted to speak, but voice failed her. At last, as steadily as she could, she said: ‘‘ Will you do me the very great favour of not mentioning my name to . . . Mr. Bywell, my lady ?” “You are too late, Johnson, for I have already mentioned it. I told him it was owing to the very excellent character written by his uncle, the Canon, that I had obtained my present maid. He looked anything but pleased, and muttered something below his breath not complimentary to the Canon. ‘There was no time then to question him, however. Give memy fan. Dear, dear, how warm it is. And, how pale you look, Johnson! I suppose it is the heat that is affecting everybody.” The following morning Lady Jakes decided again to attend the court. At the last moment before setting off she felt an irresistible desire to wear her diamond rings. Accordingly, she took them from the drawer, where they had lain for the last few weeks, and placed them on her fingers. One, however, was missing; in vain she turned over all the contents of the drawer; it was not there. She charged Margaret to find it, and restore it to her on her return. Her ladyship came from the court late and in the worst of tempers. The heat had been excessive, the cases tried uninteresting, and her handsome barrister acquaintance of the day before had simply bowed to her as she passed him, whereas she expected he would have spoken at least, if not escorted her to her carriage. Altogether it had been a day of disappointments. _“ Where is my ring?” were her first words to Margaret. ‘‘T am sorry I cannot find it,” replied the girl. “I have searched for it from the time you left till now.” “Not found it? Then it is the old story!” cried Lady Jakes impetuously. “IJ have been robbed! It is most abominable that servants should be so dishonest. My last maid was a convicted thief, and now CORMICLOOOKS. EO)