The Argosy — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

86 The Missing Rubies. assume that air of proprietorship. But he has persuaded himself that he is to have the ordering of your life, now and always.” “He cannot have his will,” said Beatrice, quietly. ‘I shall be sorry to thwart him; but I am not quite the child he takes me for.” “T heard him talking as if you were nine instead of nineteen! He is a regular autocrat, I’m afraid. You will have to assert your freedom very soon.” ‘‘T shall find out what he wants to do with me before I oppose him.” ‘Oh, he just wants to manage everything for you, that is all. You are to have no will but his, and in return for your submissiveness he will give you heaps of money. Papa says you are a very fortunate girl indeed.” ‘TI should be very unfortunate if I were forced to resign my liberty. But that can never be,” said Beatrice. *€ Still, it will be wise to humour him. Ah, I see plainly that there is no worldly wisdom in you! And one can’t help admiring a frank, independent nature ; it is so rarely met with.” Alma sighed as she spoke, and looked away across the quiet lawn, where the moonshine lay white and still. “There is a sort of romantic courage in you, Miss Ward,” she said, after a pause. ‘“ You would give up any of the world’s best things for the sake of the one you loved. Would you not? I fancy I can read your character.” “‘T believe I am easily read,” replied Beatrice, simply. ‘““That was what I thought when I had my first glimpse of your face,” said Alma, turning and looking at her intently. ‘1 saw you twice, you know, before we knew each other. The first time was at the Lyceum—the second at the Star and Garter.” Beatrice did her best to be perfectly cool and unembarrassed, and prepared herself for what was to come next. But nothing more did come. Miss Lindrick suddenly changed the subject by declaring that she looked tired. “How thoughtless of me to keep you here, when you must be long- ing to go to your room!” she said, anxiously. ‘You have hada long journey, and that talk with Mr. Redburn must have worn you out. I am afraid he will inflict himself upon you to-morrow after breakfast ; but I shall take you out of his clutches as soon as I can. I will not let you be worried and bored to death if I can help it.” And full of affectionate solicitude, Alma accompanied her guest to the very door of her room. There she left her with a winning smile and a few kindly parting words. “ Good-night, dear Miss Ward. Don’t listen any longer to those trees to-night. Get some sleep, and I will show you all my old haunts to-morrow !” But some hours passed away before Beatrice could close her eyes. comicbooks.com