The Argosy — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

154 Edith Falconer. his teeth hard in his rage; but he none the less resolved that his rival should not enjoy an urfmixed triumph. ‘‘]T gave Miss Falconer that flower,” said he, composedly. “What! you gave it to her? Confound you,” ejaculated Hunt, flinging the spray angrily upon the ground, and himself out of the room next, leaving Russell a prey to his own sick and jealous heart. As Miss Falconer was tripping along the esplanade the next morning, on her return from her early plunge in the sea, she was confronted by Russell—Russell wrathful, palpably very much in love and very full of indignation. Miss Falconer looked about her, but refuge there was none; Russell had timed his appearance well. ‘“* So,” he began, as he placed himself at her side, and they walked on together, ‘‘ you gave away my flowers last night.” Miss Falconer had recovered her serenity; and, giving a little malicious smile of triumph, she put her hand up innocently to her moist and flowing locks, as though to aid her memory. ‘Ah, yes! the flowers I wore last night; so I did. Sir Percival wished for them.” “If the impudent boy wished for the moon, is that any reason he should have it ?” ‘“*T don’t know; the moon is not in my keeping.” “Otherwise Sir Percival Hunt should not sigh in vain, even for it ; 1s that the conclusion I must draw ?” “You had better draw none,” said she, shaking her head in a meditative fashion. ‘And there is a difference between a whole useful planet and a few poor little flowers.” ‘So that is all the value you attach to my gifts,” resumed Russell, rendered more angry than ever by her imperturbability. ‘But the bunch was quite withered,” answered Edith, looking up into the young man’s face with an expression of infantine simplicity. ‘The flowers were quite faded, and their possession made him so very happy—or at least he sazd so.” ‘“Oh, Miss Falconer, having such a regard for Sir Percival, I have nothing more to say.” ‘Regard ! yes, my father likes him very much,” turning her head aside with an admirable affectation of coyness. ‘“ Indeed, so do I.” “That is enough,” said Russell. ‘‘ How favoured he should feel himself! And I can only ask pardon if I have occasionally seemed intrusive.” “Intrusive! Please do not think it, Mr. Russell. That we—we “ike Sir Percival is no reason that we should desire an absolute dearth of acquaintance, save for himself.” Russell turned and faced her. ‘‘ Edith, what a fool I have been to come and place myself again in your power!” he exclaimed, pas- sionately. ‘‘ Hopes, of which I now see the wild delusivene ss, have MIGVOOKS NGO