The Argosy — page 319: what you’re looking at

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

Within their Gates. 303 in pure mischief endeavouring to torment him as much as possible, did not enter his imagination. Yet, in a great measure, this was so. Though after a manner in love with Mary’s beaux yeux, and inclined to make himself agreeable to her, independently of jealous schoolmasters, there can be no doubt that the presence of the schoolmaster gave a zest to the affair which was highly agreeable to Mr. Shepard. Nor was this the only cause of offence given that evening. When they went indoors, the farmer asked Mr. Hale for “some music,” and the latter produced a flute, with the sound of which Mr. Shepard had already grown wearily familiar. At sight of it he shrugged his shoulders, said a few words aside to Mary, shook hands with her and her father, and wished them all “ good night.” But the whispered words and the movement of departure were not lost on the tutor. He rose to his feet with so quick 2 movement that his chair fell back with a crash to the floor. “Tf it’s my flute that is driving you away, sir,” he said, in a quick, excited voice, “ you need not disturb yourself. Mr. Owen will excuse me if I decline to play to-night. I do not wish to make myself dis- agreeable to anyone: not even to those "—he flashed a glance of wrath and love at Mary—‘ who take up with new friends and throw away old ones.” , ‘My good friend,” said the stranger, with the quiet, supercilious air of a man of the world, “I am sorry that you should construe my departure into an offence to yourself; but it is out of my power to say anything in reply to your observations except—good night !” “You'll say something in reply to them at another time!” said the teacher, clenching his hand as he followed him into the hall. Mr. Shepard turned, shortly and sternly, with a gleam in the dark eyes that the other did not altogether like. ‘tT have but one reply to make to those who are insolent to me,” he said, scornfully ; “and that reply, I tell you frankly, it will not be well for you to force me to give to you/ I have no disposition to give it, either. Neither you nor your music can be of the least importance to me, sir. Stand aside, if you please, and let me pass.” Mr. Owen, who had opened the room door, watched him as he went up the staircase. “‘What is the meaning of this, Hale?” he asked. ‘You were quarrelling, were you not, with our guest ?” “ He deliberately insulted me. The moment I got out my flute——” “Nonsense! You took offence where none was given. Why couldn’t you let the man go in peace, whether he liked your music or whether he didn’t?” , ‘It was not only the music,” replied the angry teacher, who had the great fault of not being able to keep his temper. “It is not that.” comicbooks.com