The Argosy — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

go Court Netherleigh. “There, that will do,” she impatiently said, when only half dressed, “T’ll finish for myself. Go and send Lady Grace to me:” and the maid went, gladly enough. ‘Gracie, my dear,” she began, when her daughter entered, “I am sO sorry; so vexed; but it was your papa’s fault. He should have been more explicit.” “ Vexed at what P” asked Grace. | ‘That which I told you last night—I am so grieved, poor child !— it turns out to have been some horrible mistake.” Grace compressed her lips. ‘‘ Yes, mamma?” ‘““A mistake in the name. It 1s Adela Mr. Grubb proposed for— not you. I am deeply grieved, Grace.” Lady Grace laid one hand across her chest: it may be that her heart was beating unpleasantly with the disappointment. Better, certainly, that her hopes had never been raised, than that they should be dashed thus unceremoniously down again. She had learnt to appreciate Mr. Grubb as he deserved; she liked and esteemed him, and would gladly have married him. “Will Adela accept him ?” were the first words she said. For she did not forget that Adela, by way of amusing herself, had not been sparing of her ridicule, the previous night, of Mr. Grubb and his pretensions. “TI don’t know,” growled Lady Acorn. ‘‘ Adela, when she chooses, can be the very essence of obstinacy. I have said nothing to her. It is only now I found out there was a misapprehension.” “ Mother!” suddenly exclaimed Grace, “‘it has placed me in a painfully ridiculous position, there’s no denying that: we have been talking of it amidst ourselves. If you will help me, it may be made less so.” Taaow ce “Say that I was in your confidence; that we both knew it was Adela; and that what was said about me was arranged between us to break the matter to her, and get her reconciled to the idea of zm. And let it be myself, not you, to explain now to Adela.” “Yes, yes; do as you will,” eagerly assented the mother: for she did feel sorry for Grace. Grace went to Adela’s room, and found her there, with Harriet. She had been recalling the past: and she saw now how attentive Francis Grubb had been to Adela; how fond of talking with her. ‘ Had our eyes been open, we might have seen it all,” sighed Grace. ‘“ How nicely you were all taken in last night!” she said, assuming 2 light playfulness, as she sat down at the open window. ‘“ Don’t you think mamma and I got up that fable well about Mr. Grubb ?” * Got it up!” cried Harriet. ‘“ You hypocritical sinners! Did he aot make the offer?” “ Ay, but not forme. It was better to put it so, don’t you see, by way Of breaking it to you.” Gomicbooks (EC) an)