The Argosy — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

50 Molly at the “ Mitre.” Harry Hayward had pressed forward to welcome his chum’s sister and his own country neighbour; and how she had filled his hands with the multitudinous etceteras which Lady Bussell accumulated on a two hours’ journey : but why did her tongue speak so sharply ? George was astonished. He was a simple man, not given to much modern repartee, and he answered seriously : “You know I don’t mind what I carry. Have you forgotten the black kettle at your aunt’s picnic last summer? But my time is very much filled up now, you know—no, how should you know any- thing about it? I am reading very hard, and a good bit depends on it. So when I had seen you had plenty of people to attend to you, I went back to my work.” “‘ And have been reading hard ever since?” Molly, who taught you to sneer? It is a very unladylike accomplishment. ‘IT confess my reading was not particularly satisfactory this morn- ing. It was haunted by visions of sd Ransome was a shy man, and in earnest, and he hesitated, for Molly’s face only expressed the most contemptuous indifference. Of what ?” “Oh, of—of—Hayward. You see he ought to be reading for his degree, and he hasn’t done a day’s work this term. I promised his father to give an eye to him, but we are quite in different sets here, and ” “Tt doesn’t much matter for Harry Hayward, does it?” said Molly, loftily. ‘* His father’s such a rich man, and Harry is to settle down at Coombe at once. Surely it is a matter of indifference whether he is entitled to write B.A. after his name or not ?” Poor George Ransome felt the implied snub. As father was a country clergyman, and 4s degree meant his future. But he still replied politely. “You are not so keen about academic distinction as you used to be, Miss Verey. Do you recollect the lecture you gave your brother and Hayward about more serious views of life? I wish you would repeat it in Hayward’s case; perhaps he would listen to you.” And George Ransome sighed. “Oh, I’ve seen something of Oxford now,” said Molly, with her five hours’ experience. ‘It seems to me there is very little good in setting up to be wiser than your neighbours. As for the degrees, I shouldn’t wonder if the examiners drew the names out of a hat; and if they did, I dare say it would answer just as well. Besides, in after life, nobody asks ‘ What sort of a degree did so and so take?’ It is only a trumpery little excitement got up here to keep you all amused and in a good humour.” “ Indeed !” said George stiffly. ‘* And in your case, apparently, it has failed in its effect,” ventured Molly. What evil spirit was in control of her tongue this afternoon ? “It is sometimes wholesome to hear what one’s friends think of comicbooks.com