The Argosy — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

Gwen. 117 then, but now all is changed. And I call it unkind of you to go away and make the whole thing different. I daresay we shall have a prig of a second master, whom the boys will hate and whom we shall none of us care a scrap for,” burst out Gwen, all the dignity of the past few days suddenly giving way, and the pent-up bitterness and disappointment finding vent at last. ‘“ Gwen, shall I tell you why I decided to go?” asked Mr. Dallas, gravely. ‘Will you promise not to be very angry with me if I tell you the truth ?” . ‘I don’t think I shall be much more angry than I am now,” said Gwen. “Of course I know you deserve a better position as mamma says, and that it is only out of kindness you have stayed so long. Still I do call it unkind to go just as I have come home, and after I have worked so hard too to do you credit. It isn’t as if I had failed again,” protested Gwen, with flushed cheeks. “Did you really think of me, Gwen, whilst you were away? And is it possible that the thought of a prosy middle-aged schoolmaster could have acted as a spur to you in your bright beautiful youth ? Don’t beguile me with any false hopes, Gwen. I have fought so hard all these years to conquer my presumptuous love, in vain. The first sight of you last week, overturned all my hardly-earned stoicism and common sense. I could not go on seeing you, Gwen, from day to day, and yet keep my sober sense. The truth would force itself out as it does now, against my better judgment. Now you know why I decided to go three summers ago, and why it is still more my duty to go now. Don’t be very angry, Gwen. I do not ask for your love; I only tell the truth, and ask your pardon for daring to tell it.” Mr. Dallas had spoken eagerly, carried beyond his usual self- restraint, and he leant forward now, trying anxiously to read the face beside him. But Gwen’s wonted self-possession had quite forsaken her. She still kept her face averted, but surely the fingers which held the sweet-briar spray were trembling, and could those be tears stealing from beneath the down-cast lashes ? ‘Gwen, why do you not speak. Have I vexed you by my foolish words ?” asked the tutor, perplexed by the girl’s silence and evident emotion. “I don’t think they were foolish at all,” said Gwen, in a very un- steady voice. ‘ And—and—you said you did not ask me for my love ; so what can I say?” “I dared not. It would be too presumptuous. Ah! Gwen, you have had your revenge upon me a hundred-fold for my boasted pride in your ‘odious’ figures. ‘Twice sixteen is thirty-two’ has weighed more heavily on my heart than any sum ever worried your pretty head! It would not be fair to ask you to sacrifice your beautiful youth to a man nearly double your age, with only the dull career of a schoolmaster’s life before him.” ; “Now you are talking nonsense,” said Gwen, suddenly rising and comicbooks.com -