The Argosy — page 348: what you’re looking at

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

meee A Re GeoQy Sin, MAY, 1887. LADY GRACE. BY MRS. HENRY WOOD, AUTHOR OF “EAST LYNNE.” SS ee CHAPTER VIII. AFTER THE DINNER-PARTY. Gjace more in the drawing-room at Berkeley Square sat the Dean and Lady Grace. ‘They had entered the room at almost the same moment, dressed to receive guests. The Dean gave a dinner- party that evening, and Lady Grace, as she sat at the window, observed the first carriage, as she thought, driving up to the door. Four or five weeks have elapsed since the Dean’s interview with Sir William Chant, and the sweet month of June is close at hand. The Dean has been feeling well of late; that is, he has not had any return of his malady ; but he is overwhelmed with worry. Lady Grace has been extravagant this season, and her husband knows not how to defer any longer the embarrassments which creditors are pressing upon nim. He has been staying at Great Whitton, and has only now been in town a day or two. An idea has lately been forcing itself upon him which he does not like to entertain ; yet, unwelcome as it is, he begins to fear he shall have to act upon it. It is that he shall disclose his position to his brother-in-law, and obtain from him seasonable help. It might take from four to five thousand pounds to extricate him from his dilemma and put him straight again; probably quite five. Then he would have to make all known to Grace and persuade her to live in quiet retirement for a time at Great Whitton, and pay back Lord Avon by degrees. But Dr. Baumgarten does not like to ask this loan of Lord Avon; one or two loans he has had already from him. The good-natured Earl has always been generous to them ; apart from the Berkeley Square house he often slips a ten-pound note into his sister’s hand, of which she makes no secret to her husband, and for which she hardly thanks Lord Avon. ‘‘He has no wife,” remarks Lady Grace ; ‘‘ why should he not occasionally make me presents ?” It was to be a formal dinner-party this evening; one given yearly VOL. XLIII. Y COM () co NOOKS