The Argosy, Volume XXIV — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

Gabriel’s Appointment. 3 members of her future household, until they could settle in homes of their own; and it was peculiarly convenient that Grace fancied going down to Highlevels, as she could look about the village and neigh- bourhood, and make acquaintance with her probable abode. It must be remembered that Grace had not the remotest suspicion of any real design against Mr. Bruce; the case had been put as a _ visionary supposition: all she guessed was that it referred to some- thing on which Darch Williams durst not be more explicit. She had left London without daring to confess to anyone that she was flying from the voice, the touch, the eyes, for which she had watched and waited so long; but the temptation lay in the possibility of yielding to his influence and losing her own self-respect. And now, as she sat in her corner, trying to read a book that had been given her by Mr. Forrest, she was torturing herself with doubts as to whether she ought not to have stayed—whether Darch would give her up in anger, or whether he would follow her, when he found she was gone. Her personal comfort, no less than that of Miss Kerr, was sedulously attended to by Martin throughout the journey, till he finally handed them into the carriage which Mrs. Salisbury had sent to meet them at the station. Alice’s heart sank a little when she wished him good-bye ; she made him promise to come and see her at Highlevels, especially if he had any news from London; and as she drove away into the unknown region stretching around her, ‘she felt almost as nervous as when she first arrived at Greville Gardens. How much she longed to be there again, is not to be told: but for the shame of giving way before Grace Pyne, her courage would probably have failed more than once during the drive. Her reception, however, went far to restore her spirits ; the sight of the youthful face and figure touched Mrs. Salisbury’s heart at once, so as to give spontaneous warmth to her hospitality. Alice Kerr’s appear- ance, at this time, was so much altered for the better, through the taste and liberality of her friends, that there was no incongruity in her being accompanied by a maid, and the dress and manner of Grace Pyne pleased Mrs. Salisbury directly. Everything was done to make the weary travellers feel at home, and Alice did her best to requite the courtesy shown her, and to be lively and agreeable—conscious all the while that the mention of Edith or Gabriel would bring back that aching of the throat which she had with so much difficulty overcome. The effort was perceived and appreciated: it was impossible not to feel interested in one, so young and so situated, courageously endeavouring to fight her way through the world; and Mrs. Salisbury, whose sympathies were never backward where an orphan was con- cerned, found her doubts as to Sir Jesse’s motives fast melting away. She was even disposed to give him credit for more benevolence than she had always found possible ; and instead of enduring her visitor good- humouredly, for Myra’s sake, felt drawn towards her on her own. comicbooks.com