The Argosy — page 337: what you’re looking at

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

318 Sir Cecil’s Rival. to kissing her»pale lips and. brow, her hands and her dress unceas- ingly : as though a wanderer famished, he would never be satisfied. A remark in Miss Trehawke’s calm tones presently recalled the young man. ‘That may*be,an efficacious treatment for a fainting fit, Sir Cecil; but I think, if you will allow me, I will try some more usual remedy.” : Thorpe, upon that, arose to his feet with some celerity and so met Miss Trehawke’s amused glance. ‘‘Shall I ring for assistance?” stammered he guiltily, feeling as though all the blood in his body were collecting in his face. ‘T think not,” said Miss Trehawke, as she bent over Ethel. ‘* You will find some water on that side-table; get me a glassful.” Thorpe brought it, and helped her next to chafe the invalid’s hands, and otherwise restore her, so that 1 in a little while signs of returning life were apparent. ‘ Move a little farther away,” Miss Trehawke then bade her some- what incapable, but zealous assistant. ‘‘ There is something in all this that I do not understand.” Sir Cecil was quite ready to add the apprehension of the present mystery to Miss Trehawke’s stock of knowledge, and he was com- mencing an explanation, when she motioned to him to be quiet; and the next moment the sick girl spoke in her slow soft tones. “ Are we alone? I fancied—” she began, sitting up and looking around her anxiously. | Sir Cecil stepped forward. »‘‘ Are you better, Miss Spenser ?”” ‘Yes, thank you. I fainted, did I not?” asked Ethel. Adding hurriedly, while a crimson flush overspread her cheeks, making her more like her old self, the fair.image that Sir Cecil had carried in his heart through many a varied scene: ‘‘I am very weak; a slight exertion, or—or surprise; Overcomes me.” : Then Miss Trehawke struck into the conversation to inform Ethel how she had been thrown from her horse and Sir Cecil came to her rescue, and the dreadful state she was still in, and it was quite time that she assumed more civilised attire; saying which, and her fresh face smiling at them brightly from beneath her bent hat, she went - | her way. Scarcely had the room door closed upon her than Sir. Cecil. Thorpe commenced his pleading. ‘Miss Spenser—Ethel—can I hope that you will listen to me after the mad folly with which I have acted ?” “JT do not know what you mean, Sir Cecil,” answered the girl, endeavouring to still the throbbing of her heart, and to speak with cold dignity. ‘Ethel, you know that I loved you from the first moment that I saw you, and I had some hope that my feelings were in a measure returned. To win you for my wife had become the dearest ambition of my life, when suddenly an event occurred which made me suppose that you had been only coquetting with me and deceiving me. In (EOAn\CEl exeyxe) (E(0) m