The Argosy — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

The Missing Rubies. . 155 take it into his head to be guardian to some other girl. Heaven sends almonds to those who have no teeth! I can’t be as grateful for his favour as I ought to be.” ‘It is curious,” said Alma, “ that you are not better pleased at the thought of being an heiress. I don’t think you quite realise what a delightful thing money is.” ‘But one may pay too high a price even for such a delightful thing as money. One may have to give up freedom—liberty of thought and action—the companionship one loves best—and these things are far more satisfying than a fortune.” “You are afraid that Mr. Redburn will want to take you away from the Miltons,” Alma remarked. ‘I believe he is a little jealous of them.” ** T cannot leave Mrs. Milton ; I have told him so.” *« And precisely because you have told him so, he will return to the subject again and again. My poor, dear child, he will never let you go back to Wimpole Street, if he can help it! He means to keep you a prisoner at Oak Lodge until he has formed his plans.” “Ts he really so unreasonable?” asked Beatrice, with a tremor in _her voice. “He really is. We will try to make the captive as happy as possible ; but it will be a lengthy captivity, I assure you.” “No,” said the girl, with a shake of the head; “ however pleasant captivity may be, I cannot endure it long. You are very good to me, Miss Lindrick, and Oak Lodge is a charming place, but there are others whose claims must not be forgotten.” “‘Ah, there are others—of course,” rejoined Alma, with a significant little smile; “and Fairbridge must seem dolefully dull after town.” But Beatrice was not disposed to complain of the dulness of this pretty old place, with its grey walls, its mellow red houses, its wealth of ivy and flowers. She liked the sunshiny calm of the ancient town ; the leisurely way in which people went about their business ; the slow, peaceful mode of life that prevailed here. They came to the bridge, and paused for a minute to look down into the rapid brown stream, rushing under the arch. All along the banks, there was a purple mist of wild hyacinths and a fresh greenery of young leaves. A cuckoo, far off, uttered his sing-song call; and a thrush, close at hand, warbled loud and clear. And yet— ‘ There was something the season wanted, Though the ways and the woods smelt sweet.” This was what Beatrice thought as she stood on the old grey bridge and watched the stream, with a remembering look in her deep eyes. “Come,” said Alma, after a brief silence: ‘we must not stay too long: Mr. Redburn is expecting you at home. I am very glad that comicbooks.com