The Argosy — page 329: what you’re looking at

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

310 Sir Cecil's Rival. ‘Yes, she has a lovely face,” said Miss Burton in a slightly lowered voice, and, from the furtive glances cast in her direction, it was patent that Ethel Spenser was the subject of their remarks. “ But, innocent as she looks, she seems to understand the art of flirting.” “Innocent!” echoed Adelaide scornfully. ‘‘She is as deep a coquette as there is in England. I have seen something of women, and I can tell you that that girl, with her babyish face, is full of wiles, and a desperate flirt, as anyone can see.” Miss Dudley, in speaking thus, was well aware that she had an auditor in Cecil Thorpe, and she also knew how rankling a thorn she had planted in his breast. Honourable and steadfast himself, he would be intolerant of the slightest shade of levity in a woman ; and, moreover, there was a dark page in his parents’ history that had cast its shadow over his youth, and would cause him to resent what another man would call but venial. The next moment, breaking in upon the gossip of the girls and Thorpe’s wrathful reflections, came an interruption from their hostess : her voice was borne along the room in pathetic appeal. ‘“‘ Frederick, will you come here a moment?” But her son did not seem to hear across the waste of Mrs. Dag- lish’s fat shoulders; so Mrs. Spenser was compelled to try the other member of her family. Ethel !” Thereupon Thorpe sprang to the rescue; he had become quite domesticated in the house from the frequency and duration of his visits, and it was always his impulse to be kind and attentive. ‘What is it, Mrs. Spenser? Can I be of service?” ‘‘No, thank you—Ethel,” said her mother, turning now to that young lady, who had at length come forward. ‘‘I wish you would go to the conservatory and fetch me that new orchid to show Mr. Dudley.” The missions were apparently used up, and horticulture reached. Sir Cecil interposed, saying that he would get the flower, and he begged ceremoniously that Miss Spenser should not be troubled: but the latter had already passed into the conservatory. ‘* Will you allow me to reach it, Miss Spenser ?” asked he, coming up to Ethel as she was in the act of stretching out her hand to gather the blossom. Upon hearing the freezing tones of his voice Ethel turned in — surprise, and thus met his stern regard, matching the accents in which he spoke. ‘Thank you, I have managed,” answered she with quiet dignity. ‘Tt was such a pity for your very interesting conversation to be interrupted,” said Thorpe, with what he intended to be cutting irony. “ Not at all; I was glad of the change.” Ethel’s 1 innocence was disarming, and Thorpe had no intention of Gomiecbooks (E(0)