The Argosy — page 367: what you’re looking at

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

340 Lady Valeria. in full splendour. The procession passed away, luncheon disposed of, two of the party stood in the recess of a window looking out on the street below. ‘‘T wonder how soon Randolf will be able to get away and come to us ?” the gentleman said. ‘‘ How ill he looked as he passed.” ‘Unhappy and careworn, as well as ill. Very lke you when you first came to St. Fridolin’s,” rephed the lady. ‘‘If he doesn’t arrive before you leave, I hope he'll stay away altogether. I can’t intro- duce myself as his future sister-in-law—he won’t believeme. Telling Lady Monchalsea would be nothing in comparison.” ‘‘ What did she say ?” “Everything that was disagreeable, of course ; but it served to amuse her for the whole cruise.’ ‘““T have to be at Meynell’s office by half. -past three ———” Eustace was beginning, when Mrs. Damien seized his arm. ‘Took, look! It is—it really is Mr. Paramount.” “Yes! He has been, after all, to see his son. Oh, if we could only catch him and make him acknowledge it!” “Vl bring him!” And off darted the Vicar after his Churchwarden ; while Mrs. Damien, hurriedly calling Hester to her aid, arranged the details of his reception. Mr. Paramount was soon overtaken, but to induce him to return was another thing. ‘“Mrs. Damien wants me particularly ?” he exclaimed, unhappily. ‘*{—I really ———” looking first at his rumpled coat and then piteously at Eustace. ‘‘ Please make my excuses.” But Eustace was inexorable, and Mr. Paramount, still mazed and enfeebled by the shock of his late experiences, found himself, without knowing it, hurried back to the hotel, brushed and smartened up to his usual pitch of trim perfection, and, in the centre of a gay company, bowing to a splendid gold-laced, scarlet-clad, medal-and-order-be- decked warrior, who at a signal from his daughter made him a brief, gracious little speech. He complimented him on his son, that pro- mising young soldier; implied that he ought to be grateful to Pro- vidence for having returned the paragon to him in good condition, made a graceful allusion to the recruiting of our army from the upper classes, and dismissed him to luncheon with military brevity. Hester conducted him to the table and made room for him beside Lady Beatrix Lepell, who greeted him with her wonted joviality and recommended the mayonnaise. She and Mrs. Damien were again the best of friends. ‘‘ For Heaven’s sake, Trixy, if you must quarrel} with somebody, don’t let it be the one woman of all your acquaint- ance whose nose and chin are not out of drawing,” her Augustus had besought her. ‘They plied the old gentleman with dainty fare and pretty little veiled compliments till his head felt giddy. He was not unduly exalted ; on the contrary, he rose from the table very meek and subdued. It all brought home to him so forcibly the inscrutable- CONMMICMOOOKS.e€©