The Argosy — page 179: what you’re looking at

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

The Missing Rubies. 167 seemed as if a great deal had happened in that afternoon ; although in truth nothing fresh had come to her, save a new revelation of cruel injustice. She was glad that Alma walked behind her in silence. Any words spoken at that moment between these two women must have been bitter words. Shadows were beginning to creep about Beatrice’s young life—to creep higher and higher till they reached her heart and rested there for many a day. She did not doubt, for one moment, the man she had trusted ; but she had begun to realise, for the first time, that nothing on earth has so many foes as a true love. CHAPTER XVII. COLONEL LINDRICK SPEAKS OUT. A LITTLE quiet time in her own room and the business of dressing for dinner restored Beatrice’s composure in some degree, She went downstairs in her pretty, soft silk gown, resolved to make the best of things while she was a guest at Oak Lodge, and equally resolved that her stay here should be as short as possible. Her efforts to make everything agreeable were bravely seconded by her hostess. Both girls talked brightly all through dinner. The two old men were charmed with Beatrice’s intelligence; Alma, herself, secretly applauded the girl for her spirit. The evening passed off exceedingly well, and Beatrice retired early that she might write her letters in solitude. Mr. Redburm had been accommodated with a bed-room and dress- ing-room on the most sheltered side of the house. A good deal of the morning was generally spent in the dressing-room, where he breakfasted, wrapped in a luxurious Oriental robe, and idled away his time, in invalid fashion, till the luncheon hour. If the morning was showery, or if there was an east wind, his servant carried re- freshments upstairs, and the old man did not appear till later in the day. It was no surprise to Mr. Redburn to see his host enter the dress- ing-room after breakfast with his hands full of moming papers. Colonel Lindrick thoroughly understood the art of managing invalids. He always had something cheerful to say, some bit of news to tell, some good story to amuse the weary sufferer. Tough and wiry him- self, and used to all sorts of climates, he could endure the atmosphere of a close room without much discomfort. His nerves, too, were excellent, enabling him to bear the frequent fits of coughing with perfect equanimity and indifference. “Splendid weather for you to-day,” he said, coming over to the wrapped-up figure in the cushioned chair, just as the dutiful Blake was taking away the remains of the solitary breakfast. “The softest comicbooks.com