The Argosy — page 328: what you’re looking at

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

Sir Cecil’s Rival. 309 whelmed with confusion and colour when her mistakes were dis- covered to her: so that, what with the blazing chandelier above, her dress, and her accession of colour consequent upon her maladroit criticisms, there seemed to be a fair prospect of her departing this present world, like Peter Simple’s mother, by spontaneous com- bustion. Dr. Daglish, the small meek husband of this lady, was amusing himself harmlessly with a microscope, well out of everybody’s way at a side-table. While, at the other end of the long apartment, sat their hostess boring old Mr. Dudley, Adelaide’s father, until the tears almost stood in his eyes. Worthy Mrs. Spenser had only two topics of conyversation—missions and horticulture: Mr. Dudley scarcely knew a daisy from a rhododendron, and he would not have cared if all the heathen with the parsons to keep them company, had been at the bottom of the sea. Sir Cecil, who had had a considerable experience of Mrs. Spenser’s fluency upon both subjects, wondered with which she was edifying the old squire. Miu§ssions, he presently concluded from the fact of the good lady counting on the tips of her fingers, which he knew to be her method of checking her in- teresting statistics, But the group to which the young man’s eyes turned oftenest, and with constantly-increasing irritation, was that right opposite to him but at some little distance away. The magnet that drew his gaze, his angry and ever angrier gaze, was Ethel Spenser, a lovely vision of youth and innocence in her dainty white raiment. Her dress was of muslin, plain and simple; one deep-red rose burned in the soft dusk masses of her hair, while its fellow nestled warm and rosy amidst soft lace upon her bosom. Other ornament or smallest touch of colour had she none; yet could no woman present compare with her in appearance, as Cecil Thorpe but too well knew: and her exceeding fairness seemed to be taking effect upon her attendant swain, for he kept edging nearer as the evening passed, and growing more earnest in his attention; this result was only natural, the un- avoidable effect of her charms, so her companion’s admiration and absorption were not to be wondered at; but it was truly maddening to their spectator to watch Miss Spenser’s growing interest in the conversation. The two hapless young people were in truth merely discussing pictures, but the poor baronet could not tell that. He could only see Ethel’s sweet face flushing and paling, and the dark eyes glancing up with the innocent wondering look that had charmed away his own heart. Sir Cecil Thorpe had just concluded that he would go and talk to his cousin Adelaide; talk with interest and empressement, so as to make Ethel suffer some of the pangs of jealousy that he was en- during ; when some words of Miss Dudley’s and her friend’s caused him to pause in the execution of his amiable endeavour. CORNELL O© Ss (CO) An