The record-union., 1897-06-05
what is very stranger

my lord and my lady returning SO
unexpectedly.
well. I should think So perhaps, II
It were any one else than my sister ana
her husband that were concerned, ne
replied smiling; but you know by this
time how capricious she is, and you
know. too. how attentive he is to her
lightest wish"
But there must be plenty of good
doctors in Paris one would Think
.Plenty. l should say But to Lady
Wilmington. it seems, no one can cure
her but her own And apparently his
lordship-and, oddly enough, the Paris
doctor. too-are of the same way of
thinking"
Mrs Mason spoke the next words
slowly. as if considering how to put her
next question.
II suppose, sir-theres no Doubts
all right?''
".All right?''' the young man re-
peated. in surprise. why, of course
it's all right" he went on reassuringly.
What should be wrong?"
No answer.
what should be wrong?" he asked
apprehensively
That's just what don't know, sir,
the housekeeper replied at last. But
feel uneasy-and that's the long and the
short of it, sir-uneasy.'
I'm afraid the dull weather is having
an effect on you, Mrs. Mason" said Mr..
Reginald, laughing; gloomy thoughts
are expressing you. Get to work, my
dear lady-or, rather, see that the young
women under your charge do theirs, for
no one wants to see you over-exert
yourself-then you'll have no time for
idle imagings, I'll warrant you!"
Eyes, sir, perhaps that would be best"
eve no doubt about it Well, /
mustn't advise you to attend to your du
ties and keep delaying you at the same
moment, must I? I'll make myself
scarce-and 1 dare say you'll be glad
enough to get rid of me-"
SO saying Reginald Crawford once
more took leave of the housekeeper, and
adding a few words of half Testing re-
assurance, walked briskly down the
square in the direction of his rooms in
Jermyn street.
But in spite of the young mans con-
fident tone, Mrs. Mason felt uneasy
why. she hardly knew. Yet battle as
Sne WOuiQ against II, TIE strange EEL
ing of an impending evil returned to
her again and again, filing her with
direst forebodings.
Suppose her dear ladyshp is really
seriously-ill?'' the poor woman kept
saving to herself. Far more Ill than
his lordsnip likes to say: and when he
brings her home it may not be her own
living self he brings, but No, no,
that's too horrible even to think of
Suppose that new girl Ellen" she went
on, her nominations taking another
furnishes not been in our service be-
fore-suppose she should drop a light
and the whole house be-
Mrs. Mason did not trust herself to
complete her thought. She had Sc
we're inward struggle with herself in
stead, and thus continued:
why, what a silly. stupid old woman
l am when / come to think Of it,
What's the matter with me, His
lordship says he's coming home. I'm
told to get things ready And ever since
I've had the news. instead of being ov-
enjoyed at 1t, I've done nothing else but
NOPE and moan. And for no reason
that / can see: that's the silly part of
it, Then, with sudden resolution, she
added: Il won't NOPE, and / won't
moan-there. I'll get to work, and I'll
make the girls work. too, and then /
can't Think"
With this laudable intention in view,
the old lady set about her business.