The Argosy — page 275: what you’re looking at

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

Edina. 259 “Did you tell him 7 was here ?” questioned Frank. “Well no, I didn’t: and it’s curious you should ask just that ques- tion, Mr. Frank,” cried the dame. ‘I was just going to put in the letter that I hoped I should get better now Mr. Raynor was attending me again, but Rosaline stopped it. Mr. Raynor was nothing to Blase, she said : better not name him at all, Upon that, I asked her why she did not write the letter herself instead of me—for she never will write to him. However, you were not mentioned, sir.” “What is his object in coming to London?” repeated Frank, unable to get the one important point out of his mind. “Yd not wonder but it’s Rosaline,” said Dame Bell shrewdly. ‘Blase has wanted to make up to her this many a day; but—— ‘What an idiot the man must be !” struck in Frank. “But she will not have anything to say to him, I was going to add,” concluded Dame Bell. “Why should you call him an idiot, Mr. Frank?” “‘He must be one, if he thinks he can persuade Rosaline to like him. See how ugly he is!” “She might do worse, sir. I don’t say Blase is handsome: he is not: but he is steady. If men and women were all chose by their looks, Mr. Frank, a good many would go unmarried. Blase Pellet is putting by money: he will be setting up for himself, some day; and he would make her a good husband.” “Do you tell your daughter that he would?” asked Frank. ‘She'll not let me tell her, sir. I say to her sometimes that she seems frightened at hearing the young man’s very name mentioned : just as though it would bring her the plague. I know what I think.” ‘* And what is it?” asked Frank. “Why, that Rosaline pressed upon me this settling u up here in London, on purpose to put a wide distance between her and Blase. Falmouth was within his reach, and he now and then came over there. I did not suspect this till last Sunday, Mr. Frank. When tea was over, and Blase had gone, she just sat with her hands before her, looking more dead than alive. ‘After all, it seems we had better have stayed at Falmouth,’ said she suddenly, as if speaking to herself : and that put the thought upon me, that she had come here to be farther away from him,” Frank made no remark. “ Blase has found a place at a druggist’s close by,” continued Mrs, Bell: whose tongue, once set going, would not stop readily. “I don’t suppose he'll like London as well as Trennach, and so I told him. J don’t. Great noisy bustling place |” It seemed that there was nothing more to ask or learn, and F: ‘rank bethought himself of his patients. Wishing the old dame good night comliichooks.com