The Argosy — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

100 Court Netherleigh. She became her own light-headed self again, and provoked Grace by her saucy words. In the great revulsion of feeling she almost forgot her trouble ; nay, resented it. “What a shame! —to frighten me as papa and mamma did this afternoon! I thought old Howard would not be quite a bear; and I knew my husband had all power in his hand—if he chose to exercise 1t.” ‘Any way, Adela, he has exercised it. You have a husband in a thousand. I do hope you will show your gratitude by behaving to him well in future.” “T daresay! I did think of—what do you suppose I thought of doing, Gracie? That if he proved obdurate, as papa hinted, I would win him over by saying, ‘ Let us kiss and be friends.’” ‘Tf you could have so won him.” “Tf!” retorted Adela, a mocking smile on her pretty lips. ‘“‘ You think he cares for me a little, Gracie ; but you do not know how much yet. I believe—now don’t you start away at my irreverence ! —that he loves me better than heaven. I shall not do it now.” ‘Do what?” asked Grace. | ‘Kiss and be friends. Neither the one nor the other. I shall abuse him instead ; reproach him for having stood out so long about that poor wretched Charlie: and I shall hold him at arm’s length as before. The time is not come for me to be reconciled to zm.” ‘“ Vou do not mean it, Adela! You cannot be so wicked.” “Not mean it! You willsee. Sowill he. Tra-la-la-la! Oh, what a horrible nightmare it has been!—and what a mercy to awaken from it!” : She laid hold of her pretty gold-sprigged muslin dress with both hands; she had not changed it; and waltzed across the room and back again. Grace wondered whether she could be growing really heartless ; she was not born so: but of course it must be a glad relief. The old proverb, ‘‘ When the devil was sick,” no doubt so well known to the reader that it need not be quoted, is exemplified very often indeed in our everyday life. With the removal of the danger, Adela no longer remembered it had been there; only too willingly did she thrust it away from her. She passed a good night, and the next day was seen driving gaily in the Park and elsewhere with her friend the young Lady Cust—who was just as frivolous as herself. Evening came: Tuesday evening, please remember. Mr. Grubb did not come home; neither had Adela heard from him: she sup- posed him to be still at Blackheath, and sat down to dinner alone. She wondered whither Charley had betaken himself on his release : and whether he would be likely to call upon her. She hoped not : her cheeks would take a tinge of ‘shame at facing him. Suppose he were to come in that evening ! , Charley did not come. But Frances Chenevix did. Frances, very downright, very outspoken, had been honestly indignant with Adela COMIC LOOKS, (EO)