The Argosy — page 352: what you’re looking at

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

Lady Valeria. 331 will order the brougham ; but I dread what Lady Archdale will say. She hardly likes your going with me in the mornings.” Hester took her wilful way, as she generally did, Roswal in attendance, much as he disliked carriage exercise. Shine was hotter, shade was stuffier, as they drove citywards ; air was less, smells were more. Hester drove straight to St. Fridolin’s and made her way on foot to Lavender Row. It had more the look of a half-emptied dust-bin than ever. Elsie’s flowers were the only sweet, and her windows the only clean things about the place. Behind the blank, black wall the engine’s ceaseless thud and clash seemed to make life hotter to hear it. The front-door was on the latch, after the primitive fashion of Lavender Row, so Hester entered, and tapped gently on the low, crooked panelled door. ‘“Come in,” said a gay little voice, stopping in a snatch of song. Elsie’s little sewing machine stood on the table beside her, and she was making it spin along gaily by way of accompaniment. ‘‘ Miss Archdale!” she cried, in surprise, while Hester stood in wonder- ment at the girl’s changed looks. She wore the same little spotted black print gown with the close little white frill round her throat that Hester had always known her in, but a pretty pink colour tinted each pale cheek. Her great eyes were full of light and life, her pretty lips were curving with smiles. Even the invalid’s listless attitude had gone, and she was sitting erect and busy, and rose alertly to receive her visitor. ““T have a message from Mrs. Damien,” Hester began, somewhat awkwardly. Was this the forlorn, drooping creature she had hurried to console. ‘‘She could not come herself to you, and sent me to Hear what has gone amiss—with your brother, I mean. We were all SO sorry.” “Won't you sit down?” Elsie asked, offering a chair. ‘‘ How very kind of you to come so far on this hot day. Indeed, I should not have thought of troubling you. May I make youacupof tea? The kettle is boiling. I expect father home soon.” “No, thank you,” said Hester, vaguely dissatisfied. It was the same gentle, courteous Elsie, but her manner had just the slightest touch of gay carelessness in it, almost the bright sauciness of assured good fortune, that was puzzling. ‘What did you wish to know ?” she said, quite respectfully. ‘Why, we all thought you were in such distress about Sampson,” she began. “Did you,” said Elsie, amusedly. ‘‘I suppose to a lady it does seem a very dreadful thing to enlist, but to us it is different, and Sampson is sure to get on. He is a good shot to begin with, and if his instructor likes he can do much for him; and he is over twenty, so it won’t count as boy’s service.” Elsie stopped; Hester still more surprised at her fluent command of the subject. “Tf Mr. Paramount is satisfied ———” CoOnniclbooks (CO)