The Argosy — page 247: what you’re looking at

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

Parkwater. . 235 1f I tacitly allow her and others to think that it is within the range of possibility I may some time let her take the leap, why do I do it? And these are the sort of thanks I get !” ‘* The two-faced, diabolical wolf in sheep’s clothing !” heartily uttered Mrs. Barry, from between the trees. ‘‘ Oh, if Harriet were but here! ” “If they told me to my face I was going to marry her or any Other woman, I should not contradict them,” he went on. “A nice taste a man must have to marry Harriet Ord! If I he passive under the imputation, it is for your sake.” “Were I sure you are deceiving me—that your attentions to Lady Harriet are real, I would—I would ” ‘You would what? Let us hear.” “IT would tell all to Lord and Lady Tennygal,” she answered, bursting into tears. ‘I would tell Lady Harriet that she must not be your wife, for that you are under a solemn promise to marry no one but me. I would tell them that the banns for our marriage i “Sophy, you’d do nothing of the sort,” he interrupted: ‘ you are no simpleton.” ‘‘ If it came to such a pass as that ” ‘But it is not coming to it. Lady Tennygal and Mrs. Barry, and all the lot of them—she herself included, possibly—are deluding them- selves into the hope that I shall have the old Chinese image; but don’t you put yourself into a fantigue over the matter, whatever you may hear. Time enough to call out when you are hurt.” He walked away. Mrs. Barry, who did not choose to leave her hiding-place till both had disappeared, peeped at the governess. Miss May had seated herself in the rude garden-chair; her eyes were Strained on vacancy, seeing nothing, and her whole attitude bespoke pain and misery. Suddenly her mood changed: and a frightful ex- pression of anger arose to her face, which Mrs. Barry could only liken to a demon at the play. Of course there was a dreadful hubbub; for Mrs. Barry, though she waited till the next day, did not bring her tale out so cautiously as she might have done. Accusings, and denials, and counter- accusings, and reproaches, and oaths: the latter, of course, from the angry Captain Devereux. Mrs. Barry persisted in her story, and Captain Devereux persisted in his—which was, that Mrs. Barry must have dropped asleep after dinner and dreamt it. In this he was supported by Miss May: she affirmed that she had been correcting exercises in the study at the hour mentioned: had never quitted it; and he said he had never stirred out of the diningroom. Poor Mrs. Barry was completely dum- founded ; especially when Lady Harriet Ord expressed her opinion in favour of the dream. EOMRniilElooe _ SS (CO)