The Argosy — page 349: what you’re looking at

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

328 Lady Valena. Mrs. Damien assented languidly; the fair Bostonian smiled approval. ‘The tourist who infests the Alps may carry away some recollec- tion of mere scenery, and enjoy his own vulgar holiday in his own vulgar way. But to stand face to face with nature in company with one capable of interpreting the higher beauty that appeals only to Pa A ah DO There was the stir of a fresh arrival. A tall young gentleman, with a close-cropped blonde head, was standing before Mrs. Damien. Hester’s heart beat a trifle faster and then sank down fathoms deep, as he turned a rosy, vacuous, unknown face towards Lady Beatrix, while Lady Monchalsea, eye-glass and sentence held in suspension, frowned portentously on the interruption. Then the penetrating accents resumed. ‘Tf it were an every-day travelling party that I were asking you to join, I could understand your hesitation. WhatI offer is no ordinary privilege—to visit the Alps in company with Professor Montrose.” ‘Professor Montrose?” Hester exclaimed to Roswal in astonish- ment. And * Montrose ” echoed in a low but enthusiastic whisper from the Boston group. ‘‘ Montrose.” The handsome, odd-looking man turned from his chat with Lady Beatrix with much alacrity. ‘“ Did you call me, Mrs. Damien ?” ‘No. It was Lady Monchalsea who mentioned your name.” And then, in response to the appeal of three pairs of lovely envious eyes, she proceeded to make the great man known to his trans- atlantic admirers, and provide him with three fresh followers on the spot. She seemed nervous and absent, only anxious to break away civilly from Lady Monchalsea. Lady Beatrix, after a pout at the Professor’s desertion, brightened up as three more masculine figures appeared on the scene. Hester disposed of these at a glance. Not one of them could have been mistaken for Edric fora moment. One dark—one short—one an old acquaintance. She watched each in his turn drift into Lady Beatrix’s circle, and Lady Monchalsea seize her victim once more like the Ancient Mariner the wedding guest. “You and I, Beatrix and Augustus Lepell, and Mr. Montrose—I know how much you will have in common with both the poet and the artist i ‘Ts that all your party ?” interrupted Rose. ‘We did expect Monchalsea and his wife, but Zillah is very delicate just now and keeps him prisoner beside her sofa. Perhaps Ted may geta holiday. Ihope so. Iam an old woman now and must have someone to see after my little comforts, and Ted knows the northern Tyrol better than any courier.” Hester started, and sallied forth in hot indignation. The arrange- ment was quite intelligible to her zow, 'The Hon. Ted Boughton COMMICOOOKS».E@ im