The Argosy — page 207: what you’re looking at

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

How it Happened. 193 cat sat on the rug, purring and blinking. A vase filled with sweet- scented violets and Christmas roses was upon the table, and an open piano stood against the wall It would have been impossible for us to make use of this instrument just now, however, even had we wished to do so, as the music from below came to us in full distinctness. We sat down and listened. There was presently a change of performers. Some one began to play with a good deal of brilliancy, but in every few bars a note was dropped or played incorrectly. “I feel sure it is Fenella Perrin who is at the piano,” I said. My companion ran off to find out whether my surmise had been correct, and came back laughing, and informing me I was right. “What a face, perfectly lovely, has the little girl with the bright hair,” she observed, enthusiastically, as she sat down again. Of course I assented to this. “I like both the girls,” I said. “They must come to me on Saturday next.” At this moment a clear, full, melodious voice began to sing that pathetic “ Parting Song,” by Gilbert. “Tt is Frances. It is early yet to talk of separation, when she has only just come to us,” I said, when the last soft notes had died away. She was one of those singers who can constrain attention, and make the hearers forget the world, and all its cares, as they listen. By the time the rain had ceased it was quite dark, and I was very glad to find that Louis Carter was then ready and willing to escort me home. We chose the shortest way from the Academy to the College, although this led us over the old bridge, which my companion told me he nearly always avoided crossing. He kept me lingering there on this occasion, however. “‘T never saw any beauty in this dreary place before,” he said. “I haye generally an instinctive, unaccountable dislike to the spot; and yet, to-night, it has a sort of fascination for me. Perhaps I shall leam to admire Redchester scenery in the end, Mrs. Gray, as you do.” The moon had just risen, and was casting a white ghostly light around. Candles gleamed in cottage windows here and there, and lamps burned and flared in many of the boats. A great tree near us cast gloomy shadows from its leafless branches, and shook and groaned beneath the wintry blast. The water below rushed swirling through the arches of the bridge, and washed angrily against the sides of some old decaying vessels, drawn up on the bank, at a little distance off, to await the destructive work of time, for seafaring superstition forbade their use as firewood. We were nearing home, at last, when my companion suddenly asked me if I would do him a favour. “ Certainly, if it is in my power,” I answered, wondering at his eager and yet hesitating manner. ‘“ What do you wish?” “Will you get the Miss Perrins to attend our choir practice? { VOL. XXII. S'0 comicbooks.com