The Argosy — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

86 The Story of Charles Strange. and always at his post, Lennard was an excellent superintendent, ruling with a strict yet kindly hand. One day, some weeks after I had entered, as I was at dinner with Miss Methold in her sitting-room, and the weather was warm enough for all doors to be open, we heard horses and carriage-wheels dash up to the house. ‘The room was at the head of the stairs, leading from » the offices to the kitchen: a large, pleasant room with a window looking towards the Temple chambers and the winding river. ‘What a commotion!” exclaimed Miss Methold. I went to the door, and saw an open barouche, with a lady and a little girl inside it, attended by a coachman and footman in livery. “Tt is quite a grand carriage, Miss Methold.” “Oh,” said she, looking over my shoulder: ‘it is Mrs. Bright- man.” “Very proud and high and mighty, is she not?” I rejoined, for the clerks had talked about her. “She was born proud. Her mother was a nobleman’s daughter, and she’ll be proud to the end,” said the old lady. ‘‘ Henry keeps up great show and state for her. Of course, that is his affair, not mine.” ‘‘T hear he has a charming place at Clapham, Miss Methold ?” ‘©So do I,” she answered rather bitterly. “I have never seen it.” ‘Never seen it?” I echoed in surprise. “Never,” she answered. ‘I have not even been invited there by her. Never once, Charles. Mrs. Brightman despises her husband’s profession in her heart ; she despises me as belonging to it, I suppose, and as a poor relation. She has never condescended to get out of her carriage to enter the office here, and has never asked to see me, here or there. Henry has invited me down there once or twice when she was away from home, but I have said, No thank you.” Mr. Lennard came in. The clerks, one excepted, had gone out to dinner. ‘Do you know whether it will be long before Mr. Bright- man comes in, or where he has gone to?” he said to Miss Methold. ‘Indeed, I do not,” she answered rather shortly. “I only knew he was out by his not appearing now at luncheon.” “Charles, go to the carriage and tell Mrs. Brightman that we don’t know how long it may be before Mr. Brightman comes in,” said he. I rather wondered why he could not go himself as I took out the message to Mrs. Brightman. She had a fair proud face, and her air was cold and haughty as she listened to me. “Tet this be given to him as soon as he comes in,” she said, handing mea sealed note. ‘‘ Regent Street ; Carbonell’s,” she added to the footman. As the carriage turned and bowled away, I caught the child’s pretty face, a smile on her rosy lips and in her laughing brown eyes. I may as well say here that young Lake had struck up an | CORMIELIOO KS. (E@) m