The Argosy — page 321: what you’re looking at

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

304 Between Iwo Stools. scratching a mare, took leave of me abruptly, and hurried away. What did he mean, Mr, Lascelles ?” ‘That he has the same ill luck at Newmarket as in Wimpole Street, I fancy,” replied Frank. ‘‘ He expected to win a large stake to-day by backing a mare called Dulcibella, and from what you say she must have been struck out of the race. I have no particular liking for the Major, but I have been so fortunate myself that I am almost sorry for him.” ‘More fortunate perhaps than you imagine,” said the widow. Don’t you think, Alice, we may tell him all?” ‘TI think we may,” replied Miss Carruthers, glancing slily at her betrothed. ‘Well then, Frank—TI shall call you so in future, mind—I must say that whatever your faults may be, and [’ll warrant you have plenty, Curiosity is not one of them.” ‘¢ How so, my dear madam?” inquired the barrister. ‘¢ My good sir, if you had been a woman, and had heard me speak of an adopted daughter, of whose existence you had not the re- motest idea, you would never have rested until you had found out who she was, and all about her.” ‘Ah, yes, I remember,” said Lascelles, ‘‘but I am afraid that I hardly listened to what you were saying. I was thinking ——” ‘“ Of somebody else! Very natural perhaps, but not over polite. However, when you see her, you will own that she is a charming girl.” ‘*No doubt,” said Frank, feeling that he was expected to say something. ‘‘ A sweet pretty creature,” continued the widow, ‘‘ with the softest blue eyes and the loveliest fair hair imaginable, and a complexion like alabaster.” “But, my dear Mrs. Mangoe,” laughingly observed the young man, ‘if you were talking of Alice, you could not have described her more exactly.” | ‘¢ And of whom but Alice do you suppose I am talking ?” retorted the lady. ‘‘Is she not my adopted daughter, and have you only just found it out, you silly fellow ?” Before Frank could answer, the door opened, and the butler, his face redder than usual, for he had been disturbed at his dinner, announced that Mr. Sharpset was in the drawing-room. ‘Bless me!” exclaimed the widow, rising hastily from her chair, ‘T had quite forgotten he was coming. Alice must tell you the rest. If it’s the old story over again,” she said to herself as she went up stairs, ‘‘ I shall have easier work with him than with the Major!” She was apparently right in her previsions, for in less than a quarter of an hour the Honourable Adolphus, closing the street door with a tremendous bang, jumped into a Hansom which was in wait- ing, and bade the driver ‘‘ bowl away like bricks” to the Caravansary. CORNMCOOOKS:COL et