The Argosy — page 265: what you’re looking at

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

246 Lady Grace. had become acquainted when he was visiting his uncle, Brice the surgeon at Great Whitton. It was this Aunt Charlotte Cyras had been to see. She lived in a handsome house at Norwood, for they had become very wealthy. And whilst he was speaking, Brice the surgeon came in; for he was the guest expected. After greeting Lady Grace and the Dean, he turned to Cyras, holding him before him by the lappets of his coat, gazing intently into his face. He had not seen Cyras for three years. ‘What a likeness !—what a likeness! It is yourself over again,” he said to the Dean. ‘‘ Just what your face was at his age.” Dr. Baumgarten laughed. ‘“ You did not know me when I was his age, Brice. Nor for five or six years after it.” ‘It 1s a wonderful likeness, is it not, Lady Grace?” went on the surgeon, ‘ T have always said so,” she answered. Gertrude entered; a beautiful girl, with the fair delicate skin and the proud blue eyes of her mother. She was a pleasant girl, not self- willed as Grace used to be, but sweet and gentle, ‘How is Lord Avon ?” asked the surgeon. ‘Quite well,” said Grace; ‘and in London. MHe was on the Continent all last year, but this year he is at home.” “ As good natured as ever, I expect.” Just the same,” laughed Lady Grace. They sat, after dinner, in the drawing-room talking together until nine o’clock, when Mr. Brice had to leave them. He was engaged to a gathering at a noted physician’s house near Hanover Square: a dozen or so of learned men, chiefly medical men, were about to meet to discuss a discovery of the day. ‘ T wish you would accompany me,” said the doctor to his host. “You could not fail to appreciate what you will hear, and I’m sure you will not repent the introduction to Sir William Chant. He has hardly his equal.” ‘“T should like to go very well,” said Dr. Baumgarten. “ Any room for me?” spoke Cyras quaintly. ‘To be sure,” assented Mr. Brice. ‘Come along.” This visit need not have been recorded but for a matter which grew out of it. They spent a pleasant and profitable hour or two at Sir William Chant’s, the Dean especially enjoying the society of Sir William himself, to whom he took a great liking ; and they came away soon after eleven o’clock. In passing a side street, they suddenly fell upon a commotion ; wild shouts arose from the mob, while flames were pouring out of the windows of one of the houses. Cyras made for the scene at a gallop; the surgeon ran; Dr. Baumgarten went after them. There was much pushing in the street, everyone wanting to get where he could best stare at the windows. In the midst of it all an engine, with its firemen, clashed and dashed round the corner, scattering the people right and left. ECONNIECLOOKS.E@ m