The Argosy — page 374: what you’re looking at

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

302 Sabrina. He did not come to see us for a good while, and I, at least, was disappointed. There is nothing specially attractive to a young man in the society of an elderly female, so there might be no special inducement in me; but he might have come, I thought, to see the rare beauty that he had evoked in my young companion. His absence told upon Sabrina. Elaine, you will remember, died because Launcelot had no heart to give her in return for hers; but this girl, instead of dying, would become morose and ascetic, if her heart were left empty. I saw it every hour. She was constantly saying little sharp things to me, then begging my pardon. On the sixth evening of this she sat by the window, peering out into the darkness of the forest, where the trees were sighing and moaning as if their old nymphs had returned, and were bewailing their old haunts, like Jephtha’s daughter on the mountains of Gilead. ‘Child, for whom are you looking?” I could not help saying, though it was unkind of me. ‘ For whom should I be looking ?” she said, crossly. Oh, I was only joking.” ‘‘ There is nothing to joke about, and no one I care to see, and you know it!” she added, with unnecessary vehemence, for she was literally aching with excitement. Suddenly she burst out: “ I wonder, Miss Patience ” Then stopping as suddenly, she threw herself down beside me, and burst into bitter tears. JI let her cry en; she had been very naughty, and if she had been a child I should have scolded her. A movement near made me look up. There stood her cousin, gazing at her with a certain mixture of surprise and gladness, for which I could not account, but the cause of which was really, that the young woman beside me was by no means perfect ; indeed was at that moment manifestly a repentant sinner. He was like the rest of us, and preferred fellow-sinners to those persons who never do any wrong. ‘© Have you been cross, little cousin ? ” To be told she is cross is what no woman out of a ‘‘ memoir ” can endure, so Sabrina sprang up with flaming cheeks and flashing eyes. ‘‘T do so object to bad manners! It is usual to knock at a door.” To this he answered gently that he had knocked three times, and thought that he heard an invitation to enter. “You are very welcome, Miles,” I interposed. ‘ We thought you would have come before.” ‘“‘ Speak for yourself, dear,” said Sabrina ; ; “ he is welcome to stay away for ever, as far as I am concerne Miles grew angry at this. ‘What has come to you? Is this the gentle girl I have known so long P” ‘Miles, be quiet,” I implored. “There is no need,” cried Sabrina, as she swept out of the room ECONMCOOOKS.CO mn