Marie Gourdon / A Romance of the Lower St. Lawrence

ou set thy rank

e honored for

ls the wearer,

rish that div

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anada, were scattered here and there about the room. At a large desk, looking as if it might belong to a man with an immense business connection, sat Lady Margaret McAllister. She was adding accounts with a methodical accuracy and speed even

that the conduct of their bailiff was most reprehensible. Lady Margaret always used long words in pre

ter the estate. Jones is the most execrable manager I ever knew. Here you are, with nothing to do all day except smo

ou have less. I am, indeed, a sore trial to

question about that," sa

his mouth, looked at her ca

n wh

o say, you have said it so frequently

my dear; that was just wh

ecause I could n

refused, and I would have gone back

terrifying figure; "be at least truthful. You would not have given

ggravatingly, "all that is over. As your po

had returned to her accounts. "Your poet, you mean, for your quota

nted you are right. You always are, my dear. But let us retur

amous prima donna, Mademoiselle Laurentia is st

, I suppose. All her swans turn out geese. I only h

Mademoiselle Laurentia, for she comes from your

ned, with some show

mber, for, just as she was at the most exciting part, Jones came in and related the acco

orgetting all the pleasant ones. This adds much to your worth as a charming compan

this tender speech, for she was again d

have agreed with him. Lazily smoking in a comfortable arm-chair, this man is ver

dark hair and bronzed complexion. A remarkably handsome man was The McAllister of Dunmorton, but to a close observer there was something lacking in his face-the old weakness ab

est in his tenants. After much persuasion from Lady Margaret, he had been induced to run for the county, and was returne

n, she wished above all things that her husband should make his mark in the world. Vain

saw his strong points as well as his weaknesses, and, being by some years his senior, hoped to mou

nd a very tiresome one into the bargain. She could not touch his sympathies, for whatever heart he ever had was far across th

d to come over to Scotland to share his prosperity, but the old lady a

Scotland on a visit, and had brought a letter of introduction from the curé of Father Point to McAllister. The letter consisted only of a few short lines.

m his meditations, "I am going out now, and I shall not b

nner. Last time we were invited to the Severn's you were ha

time this evening, and trust to make