The Argosy — page 323: what you’re looking at

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

304 Sir Cecil’s Rival. there was a certain method in Sir Cecil’s liberality. Sauntering slowly up the room, he paused at each stall in turn; but having spent a reasonable amount with such readiness as to awaken great hopes in the breasts of fair saleswomen, he was not to be induced to lay out any further sums. His refusal was laughing and pleasant; but he invariably passed on remorselessly to the next emporium of cushions and teakettle-holders. Only upon reaching the head of the room, which was occupied by two stalls, did Sir Cecil depart from this judicious course of action. At the first of these tables he came to a decided stop, and lounging across it, spoke with familiar ease and brevity to the handsome girl with bold eyes, and bolder tongue, who presided there. * How do you do, Adelaide ?” ‘Quite well, thank you; but I have no time to-day for frivolous conversation.” The young lady’s manner, however, belied her words; for, per- mitting an old gentleman, upon whom she would have swooped three minutes earlier, to pass unscathed, she leaned over the improvised counter, ready for any extent of chat. ‘They were cousins, Sir Cecil Thorpe and Adelaide Dudley; and his sunny blue eyes and pleasant smile had long ago won Adelaide’s heart. Unaware of his spoil, Sir Cecil only thought of her as a sharp sort of girl for a fellow to talk to, and was especially glad to find her now in this desert, where were few of his kind. Sir Cecil Thorpe glanced at the articles before him, lifting one or two, then flicking them contemptuously aside. ** Who is the young lady to the right ?” he asked at length, dropping his voice a little. ‘‘She does not seem to be doing a very brisk trade.” ‘‘Poor Miss Spenser! no; I suppose she knows but few people, <f said Adelaide Dudley carelessly. “Oh! that’s Miss Spenser, is it ?”—‘‘ And a deuced pretty girl she is,” he thought, but did not say. ‘‘I understood the Reverend Frederick was expecting his family to take up their abode with him, and they have apparently arrived,” he added aloud after a minute’s interval. ‘‘ How many more such household deities has he ?” “His household deities, Cecil, as you term them, are two in number; this sister and his mother. Spenser, senior, would seem to have departed this evil world,” Miss Dudley ended with flippancy. At this juncture a strong party of customers claimed Miss Dudley’s attention, and under cover of the distraction Sir Cecil Thorpe glided away to seek “fresh fields and pastures new.” He had not, however, sauntered on half a dozen paces before he heard a manly voice behind greeting him. ** Glad to see you here, Sir Cecil!” “ Hallo! Spenser, how do you do? “Yes, here I am, doing my Gomilcbooks (E(0) pita OA EE ela SEN Coen m