The Argosy — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

The House of Halliwell. 97 in their speech and manners to each other, as the children had been in her own home. The Countess was a tall, grand woman, quiet and reserved. None of her children resembled her except Viscount Sale. She was wrapped in a thick shawl, though the day was hot, and looked pale and ill. One day, in that first week, Lady Georgina came into the room while the little girl was reading, and Hester rose up to receive her. “ Don’t let me disturb you,” she said, in a pleasant, careless tone. “Miss Halliwell, I presume. Has my sister nearly finished reading?” “Ves,” interrupted Lady Ellen, shutting the book of her own accord. ‘‘I have read a page, and that’s enough. The words are hard, and I don’t like it.” Hester knew that the child had not read half enough, but she doubted whether it was her place to differ from her, and at that early stage did not dare to do so. She stood in hesitation. ‘Miss Halliwell,” said Lady Georgina, bringing forward a huge portfolio, ‘‘do you know how to mount handscreens? Look at this pair which I have begun. I am not making a good task of them. Can you help me? Mademoiselle knows no more about it than this child. Ellen, let my paintings alone.” As it happened, Hester did know something of the work. She had a natural taste for it, and for drawing. When a child, she would spend hours copying the landscapes on an old china tea-set, and any other pretty view that came in her way. George Archer once found one cf her old drawings, and kept it, saying he should keep it for ever. Poor Hester ! She told Lady Georgina she believed she could assist her, but that the little girl had only just begun her studies. “Oh, her studies are of no consequence for one day,” remarked Lady Georgina, in a peremptory tone. ‘‘ Nelly, dear, go to Made- moiselle ; my compliments, and I am monopolising Miss Halliwell this afternoon.” The child went out of the room, glad to be dismissed. She disliked learning English, and had told Hester that her French lessons were much less difficult to her. “Do you cut the gilt paper out on a trencher or with scissors ?” asked Lady Georgina. ‘‘ For the flowers, I mean.” Before Hester could answer, a merry-looking boy of fifteen, or rather more, looked into the room, and then sprang in. It was the Honourable Harry Seaford. ‘IT say, Georgy, are you in this place? I have been all over the house after you. Who was to think you had turned school-girl again? What are you up to, here? ” “Why do you ask?” inquired Lady Georgina, without raising her eyes from the screens. ‘Papa wants to know if you mean to ride with him this afternoon, and he sent me to find you.” GomiilGcyaooks (C(O)