The Argosy — page 181: what you’re looking at

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

164 Lady Valeria. She sat up again and spoke rather sullenly. “It’s not pleasant to be made to feel every hour that you’re of no particular importance to anybody. I have no self-assertion in me—absolutely none—but dear baby shall be considered! I have her position to maintain, let them trample on me as they will!” “Who wants to trample on you? No one here surely?” and Eustace against his will caressed the little hand that lay in his. ‘Oh, I knew you’d take my part. If you had been here it would all have been so different. I feel the chill of that home-coming yet. No carriage to meet us. Only the brougham and Mary Liddell. Not even an apology. Nota creature to receive us—dear baby, I mean. Only your father hoping we hadn’t had a cold journey, and asking if baby hadn’t better go to the nursery at once!” ‘“T see. You had visions of pealing bells and bonfires blazing, and the cheers of a devoted tenantry to welcome baby to her ancestral halls P” Amy lifted her great eyes. ‘‘ Well, why not? It’s always done everywhere for the heir, isn’t it? I did say something to your father, and all he said was ‘ Wait till he comes,’ as if dear baby wasn’t his only grandchild.” ‘Amy, dear, this is dreadful nonsense. I’m sure Randolf wouldn’t like to hear you speculating on the deaths of all three of us : my father, your husband and me, which must happen before baby comes to her inheritance. Now you must keep the rest of your sorrows till the day’s work is over, for I hear the carriages. Won’t you dry your eyes and come and see my visitors ?” Amy was on her feet directly, adjusting her neat little fringe at the glass, then with a backward glance and surreptitious kick at her train she took his arm. ‘Of course, dear, whatever 7 may be feeling, it shall spoil no one’s pleasure to-day. Now we will go down to the Great Hall and bid your friends welcome.” Eustace was infinitely relieved by this change of tone, and thanked her cordially as she swept beside him down the few broad steps to the entrance hall, where de Cressy was assisting Lady Archdale out of the carriage. Very prettily and shyly did Amy step forward to receive her and Hester, at whom she cast a sharp second look and a third at Eustace, who she was relieved to find was just as interested in the arrival of “Granny.” Then the first waggonette drove up with its load and Mrs. Goodliffe, who was fascinated forthwith by Amy’s recognising her at once ‘from Randolf’s description,” aided possibly by a few words from Hester. ‘Then came the second waggonette, and then the rest, till the great vaulted hall was full of figures and voices, with little childish Amy for a centre casting winning looks and smiles around as she bade them all welcome to Altcar, in her high, clear, infantine treble. CONMICLMOOOKS. (6)