The Argosy — page 179: what you’re looking at

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

162 Lady Valeria. all, so much the more manageable. Elsie, everybody’s friend, was missing. Hester, doing penance, as she frequently did, for her harsh thoughts of the girl, had made a point of going to see her, but use- lessly. ‘‘ Gone to the sea-side” was good Mrs. Ridge’s explanation of her absence the first time: and on the second, Hester was received by a respectful, dark-eyed woman, a fellow-lodger, who took her messages but could in no way enlighten her as to Elsie’s doings. Hester sent her the card of invitation and a note as well, but to neither did any answer come. All the rest were there, brimful of excitement and curiosity. Mr. Stannard handed Lady Archdale into the Altcar carriage, with de Cressy to take care of her. ‘‘ Ought I not to take some of them with me?” she murmured, graciously, entering into the spirit of the day. And he, looking round to see who would be least embarrassed or embarrassing by such honour done her, made a happy selection of ‘“‘Grannie,” a neat, alert, rosy-faced old lady, who stepped in briskly and rolled off in state. Then Hester and he set to work to make a judicious distribution of the rest, which was in time felicitously accomplished with Mr. Renwick’s assistance. He eventually undertook the guidance of the party to Altcar Court, while Eustace made his way there by the short cut to anticipate their arrival. It was still morning prime, and he was surprised to see a little group on the terrace evidently awaiting him: his mother, as he made out, Lord Altcar and Mary Liddell. Down the terrace steps and grassy slope of the lawn came the old lord to meet him ; his white hair flying and his blue eyes beaming delightedly. “Ha, Eustace! Got here all right? [I’m glad tosee you. I’m uncommonly glad to see you! Yes, there’s your mother. She would come out. Mrs. Burnett found her wanting to be dressed an hour earlier to-day, and she’s as bright as can be. We’rre all ready for your flock. Mary is in her element, and we mean to make a regular féte of it. Glad of the chance to show somebody sfe isn’t the centre of everything yet!” Eustace deferred enquiries till he had greeted his mother and answered the loving queries that shone in her eyes. She looked to Mary meaningly, and Mary obeyed the look. “ Did you know that we have Mrs. Randolf here and the baby ?” ‘“ Amy? No, I hadn’t heard. I’m very glad. Aren’t you all delighted ? ” No one answered for an emphatic second, then Mary spoke up loyally. ‘“‘Tt’s quite the proper place for her, of course; and baby is the sweetest little thing in the world; and with poor Major Stannard abroad she must feel terribly tried and anxious.” Lord Altcar gave a sort of grunt by way of comment, and one of the maids tripping along the terrace brought ‘ Mrs. Stannard’s CONMICLMOOOKS. (6)