The Argosy — page 336: what you’re looking at

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

Sir Cecil’s Rival. 317 ‘‘Oh ! they are not to be resisted,” said Miss Trehawke, sparkling with interest now. ‘I should like to try them.” Sir Cecil tore a leaf out of his pocket-book, upon which he scribbled a line or two, then handing it to the man he despatched him on his horse with instructions to be quick. The groom having disappeared at a sharp gallop, Thorpe proposed to Miss Trehawke that they should walk along the road to meet the carriage, which could not be long in reaching them. He was right, for they had not proceeded far on their way before they heard the sound of rapidly-approaching wheels, “The darlings!” exclaamed Miss Trehawke, observing critically the action of the handsome pair of horses which drew the phaeton. ‘¢ Let me drive.” ‘‘By all means, if you wish it,” said Thorpe laughing at her enthusiasm. So the reins were given into Miss Trehawke’s hands, and under her effective Jehuship the short journey was soon accomplished. ‘Come in,” said she to Thorpe, peremptorily, as she pulled up the horses in masterly style at the Vicarage door. ‘‘ Mrs. Spenser ought to be very much obliged to you for looking after her trouble- some visitor.” ‘Not at all,” answered Thorpe, but he gladly followed his fair companion into the house, where he was at once marshalled into the morning-room—the pleasant parlour with the French windows open- ing on to the lawn which he had cause to remember so well. Miss Spenser was seated there alone. ‘‘ Ethel, here is Sir Cecil Thorpe,” announced Miss Trehawke, preceding the young man up the room. Thorpe was eagerly advancing, when from sheer amazement he suddenly came to a stop. ‘This pale shadow was not his fair, bright Ethel, whom he had loved at first sight. It was Ethel, but so wan, so slender, so changed that Thorpe might well doubt her identity. The beautiful eyes, dilated with astonishment, that were lifted. for a moment to his, alone seemed to belong to the girl’s old self. Thorpe was too much shocked at the change to speak at once, but his first surprise over, he was extending his hand to Miss Spenser according to form, while Miss Trehawke began an animated recital of her morning’s adventure as an explanation of Sir Cecil’s appearance. Both received an abrupt check; for Ethel, who had risen from her seat in an attempt to greet the visitor, suddenly swayed upon her feet and would have fallen, had not Sir Cecil sprung forward and caught her. Miss Spenser had been overcome with faintness, and it was a perfectly senseless figure that Thorpe the next moment laid down upon the couch where the poor child had been reclining pre- vious to his entrance. Thorpe thought of nothing, he was conscious of nothing; he obeyed only the impulse of his full heart bursting with love and pity, and casting himself down by the unconscious girl’s side, he fell CoOnnicloookKks (SO) an