His Grace — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

HIS GRACE. 4I I know that I was not; and when the train drew up beside the platform and Hurstbourne stepped out of a saloon carriage, I saw at once by his face that he, too, was a little bit annoyed. He was followed bya stout lady, whose hair was of that peculiar golden tint which has never yet been known to grow naturally upon a human scalp, and to whom he introduced me, saying: “ You ought to be acquainted with my mother, Martyn, for she has been acquainted with you by repute for a very long time.” She had a good-natured face, and she said a few kindly words to me as she shook hands; but she man- ifested quite plainly the vexation which her son was making gallant efforts to disguise. | The next person to emerge from the train was a tall, thin, clean-shaven man with an eyeglass, whose iden- tity was immediately revealed by the somewhat un- called-for haste with which his henchmen pushed for- ward to greet him. I could not altogether agree with Mr. Higgins that his carcase was an ugly one, although I did not much like the look of him. He wore a dep- recating and faintly-amused air, as who should say, “ Tam really very sorry to have put anyone to inconven- ience; but it is no fault of mine. I can’t help it, my dear cousin, if I am a bigger man than you, and I can’t prevent all these good people from displaying their natural affection for me.” I believe he actually did say something almost as bad as that. to Hurstbourne, on taking leave of him, after they had received and responded to their respect- ive addresses and were moving towards the exit, amidst an outburst of cheering which, let us hope, was meant to be divided impartially between them. Gomicboo cS (E(0) m