The Argosy — page 171: what you’re looking at

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

158 Lottwe’s “Yes.” ‘TI should hardly think Miss Craven likely to act up to her theory,” returned Lionel; ‘‘but one ought not to judge: one can never be sure.” Then Eve got up as if endeavouring to shake off some irritating thought. Lionel got up too, and the lovers in the distance saw them wandering away. ‘‘I wish Eve would take compassion upon him,” said Lottie. ‘ Would what ?” exclaimed Harry. The vehement manner and the angry flush which rose hotly to his face were not lost upon Lottie. ‘“ You think it a bad match for Eve,” she said; “‘ but he is a good man.” : ‘In the highest degree poor and pious !” ‘‘VYou are no judge, being so prejudiced.” ‘¢Prejudiced ?” (very warmly). ‘‘ Why should I be prejudiced ?” Lottie looked up with a smile, which was not altogether pleasant to Harry Davenant. He was beginning to distrust Lottie’s smiles. A sudden turn brought the divergent couples together. ‘‘ You were interrupted the other day in your criticism on Undine,” Eve was saying. ‘Yes: I wanted you to see that Undine is evidently a spirit,” re- plied Lionel; “‘not the soulless daughter of rivers and floods, but the spirit of beauty, worshipped in all ages, however little compre- hended—a gift and a revelation, and born of water.” ‘Out of your depth again,” broke in Harry, with something less than his usual urbanity. ‘‘ You both deserve to be drowned in your rivers and your floods! Pray take a turn with me, and stop moralizing,” he continued, placing Eve’s hand within his arm. “I think it must be all these inductions and inferences and disputa- tions which make you look so wretchedly pale.” There was a curlous mixture of amusement and regret in Lottie’s eyes as they passed out of sight. ‘‘I hardly know what you think about it, Mr. Butler,” she said, turning towards him, “‘ but I am very, very sorry.” ‘Sorry for yourself, or for Miss Dacre, or for both?” asked Lionel. ‘‘T have not thought much of myself,” replied Lottie, *‘but I would lay down my life for Eve.” Lionel looked at her steadily for a few moments; then he took her hand and pressed it very warmly in both his own. It was quite an hour before Eve came back; she returned alone and paler than ever. Attempting to make some apology for her delay, Lottie stopped her and whispered lightly, ‘‘ Lovers are proverbially laggards.” ‘““'There were no lovers, Lottie,” said Eve. ‘No lovers?” repeated Lottie, drawing Eve into the study, and closing the door as if to prevent her escape. ‘‘ Then I think you hardly know the meaning of the word! But seriously, it is a pity that Gomilcbooksecom