The Argosy — page 325: what you’re looking at

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

306 Sir Cecil’s Rival, Their acquaintanceship was progressing hopefully. In the beginning Sir Cecil Thorpe kept turning over a few of the articles on the table, as though laboriously striving to make up his mind which he should appropriate to himself; in reality intent upon watching for the vagrant colour that came and went in the girl’s clear cheeks, and laying stratagems for the pretty dimples that danced for a moment about her mouth, transforming its usual aspect of meek gravity into an emblem of innocent mirth. Miss Spenser’s method of conducting business rather amused Sir Cecil in contrast with Adelaide Dudley’s sharpness in that particular. Miss Spenser served people with what they asked for, or had a strong desire to possess ; received their money, counted out their change to them gravely and carefully, and then permitted them to go on their way rejoicing. “Miss Spenser, when the flies walk into your parlour,” advised Thorpe, regarding the anxious expression of her small countenance ‘“‘you should not let them go again so easily.” “But how am I to keep them ?—I want dreadfully to make at least a respectable sum.’ Sir Cecil laughed at this high flight of ambition. ‘Of which I see as much prospect as of my being made Emperor of China,” said he, twirling round a small piece of worsted work, which he had picked up, to the destruction of its pink-and-white beauty. Thorpe was sorry for his words and laugh when he saw the concern deepen upon her childish countenance, and, compassionating her distress while utterly unable to comprehend it, it occurred to him, that perhaps he might help her to dispose of some of her articles. Just then a prosperous farmer’s wife came up, and Sir Cecil regarded her as a favourable subject for experiment. This lady, reaching out a huge hand cased in a black kid glove of unimaginable dimensions, took up one thing after another, examined it at all points and laid the article down again, dissatisfied. Sir Cecil glanced up and down the stock of fearful and wonderful creations before him to find something of the uses of which he might have some ee idea. Finally, he pitched upon a pair of slippers. ‘‘ Good afternoon, Mrs. Webster! How is your good husband ?”. The woman turned at the sound of the genial voice, and, recog- nising her landlord, dropped him a respectful curtsey. “Are you looking for a bargain, Mrs. Webster? Here’s a pair of shoes ; charming things!” Mrs. Webster took the slippers from his uae and finding the ticket, read aloud, *‘ Ten and sixpence. Not much of a bargain, are they ?” asked she in a polite tone of deprecatic un. Thorpe laughed with perfect good-humour. ‘‘ Too bad of you, Mrs. Webster, to use my own words against me! Well, they are the greatest comfort in the world and cheap at any price ;—I’ve a pair, and wear them every night.” (EO AnCel exeyxe) SS (E(0)