The Argosy — page 182: what you’re looking at

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

Lady Valeria. 165 ‘“We have made some little plans for the day’s amusement, and must make the most of our time together as it is so short. We shall dine directly, but there will be time for you to see the house, if you care to do so, first. The picture galleries and the old state apartments where King Charles once slept—Mrs. Bates,” introducing the stately old housekeeper—‘“ knows them all far better than I do. Shall I put you all in her care for a short time ? And you will come and rest in the drawing-room, will you not?” timidly to Lady Archdale, adding In an anxious little under-tone: ‘‘Oh, I Zope they will be happy. I’ve never had anything of this sort to do before.” Lady Archdale smiled gracious encouragement on the shy, con- fiding little creature and followed her. Hester electing to keep with the girls. ‘““Amy,” spoke Eustace rather sharply, ‘‘ where are Miss Liddell and my father? Should you not have sent for them ?” ‘Dear Eustace, how do I know? In Lady Altcar’s sad state we have to be so guarded”—this in explanatory parenthesis to her visitors. “As neither of them came to help me, I had to do the best I could all alone. Youknow I dare not bring a crowd about your mother without leave.” He strode off without reply, and found poor Mary alone with Lady Altcar, not daring to leave her post in Lord Altcar’s absence, despite one or two imperative glances from her charge, wistfully listening to the sounds within. ‘““Where’s Mrs. Burnett to-day ?” he asked. ‘* Not on duty ?” “Oh, yes, but she had to go out on an errand for Cousin Esmée, and hasn’t got back.” ‘And my father ? ” Here Lord Altcar turned the corner of the house, hot and breath- less. ‘‘ Very sorry, my dear, but I had totally forgotten to take the readings of the thermometers this morning. Observations are worth nothing if they are not regular and accurate. What? Has your party come, and you out of the way? What a shame! Why don’t you bring everyone out here, Eustace ?” His voice penetrated to the drawing-room, and was answered by the appearance of the two ladies followed by the two clergymen. Amy dutifully presented the strangers to her mother-in-law and then shrank away into a position of conspicuous loneliness, while Mary sped away joyously to join the party of inspection. ‘“‘T like him,” Amy thought, as she noticed de Cressy’s glance of discreetly-veiled admiration stray towards her forlorn little blue and white figure. ‘‘I feel as if I could talk to him and he would under- stand me, better even than Eustace. I feel asif I must talk toa clergyman in my state of mind.” And she sighed and thought of Randolf, and how detestable life was without a devoted slave at one’s beck and call. There was a real genuine tear of self-pity shin- ing in each blue eye when she lifted them to the curate, to whose soft COnniclbooks (C©@) an