The Argosy — page 375: what you’re looking at

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

355 BEATRIX. ‘‘ JT F it is those social nuisances called Tableaux Vivants you are about to discuss, I think it 1s high time for me to abscond,” said Curzon, raising himself indolently from his stooping position. His mother’s lap-dog lay before tne blazing fire dozing under the influence of its grate- ful warmth, and his mother’s son had been employing himself idly for the last ten minutes in making the doze as unpleasant as it well could be. “Well, if you are going, go at once,” Felicia exclaimed, raising her handsome, impatient blue eyes from the written list she was studying. ‘¢ Certainly, in any affair of this kind, Curzon, your absence is generally an intense relief.” ‘Thank you; your words are ever tipped with honey, especially when addressed to me,” her cousin answered, as he lounged lazily towards the door, his hands thrust into the pockets of his morning-coat. Arrived there, he paused irresolutely. ‘* If you would like to make any use of me, you know, you caz,” he remarked, with rather grand condescension. ‘It 1s only the everlasting suggestions and counterplottings I object o. Shall I be ‘ Douglas’ to your ‘ Annie Laurie,’ eh?” “ Can't,” Felicia answered, growing faintly pink. ‘“‘ Captain Dudley has chosen that part.” ‘“‘T wouldn’t doubt him,” said Curzon, without the faintest spark of interest animating his voice. ‘“ He was always an_ interfering individual. Well, then, may I be ‘Hugh’ to Miss Trixie’s ‘ Dolly Varden ?’” ‘“‘Late again,” Beatrix exclaimed, in her clear, musical voice, coming out from her corner with a pretty show of excitement. ‘‘ You should have asked me all these important questions before. Frank Warburton has begged to attend me on this occasion, and you can fancy what a very magnificent Hugh 4e will make.” Curzon leant against the side of the door, and regarded her curiously for a moment. ‘“‘ Magnificent indeed,” he said, slowly, ‘with his beautiful masses of crimson hair and his gigantic, ill-shaped limbs, Is this interesting ‘Hugh ’ to hold you in his arms?” ‘Won't it be capital fun?” exclaimed Beatrix, with a laugh of irrepressible amusement. “It is that scene where ‘ Hugh’ runs away with ‘ Dolly,’ you know. Frank wanted, right or wrong, to run away with | me too; but Felicia and I thought it would scarcely (answer—-off the stage I mean, of course,” concluded Miss Falkland mischievously. | ‘‘ Let me see,” Felicia broke in abstractedly, running sev white inger —_)