The Argosy — page 171: what you’re looking at

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

158 Leduh Lalconer. ‘Marry my daughter!” cried Mr. Falconer, quickly exploding, while Sir Percival continued to stare at the guilty couple in a per- plexed helplessness. ‘‘ I am astonished at your audacity,” foamed the angry father. ‘‘ You have proved yourself a mean, designing scoundrel.” ‘Perhaps you had better hear us before you proceed,” said Russell, his calm voice in singular contrast with the violence of the other’s tones. ‘Hear you! No, sir! No; the presumption of a person occupy- ing your position ——” ‘Position! JI should not have thought that you could take any exception to my family,” cried Russell, proudly, his tones growing a little warmer; while, as regards Edith, the pallor which had crept over her face at the first exhibition of her father’s wrath was giving way to a crimson flame of indignation at the insulting epithets piled upon her lover. “You had better go, George,” said Edith, with proud, quivering lips, holding out her hand and giving Russell a glance at once pitiful and tender. “And as to you, madam, the sooner you come to your senses the better,” cried the irate sire, howling his last words at the closing door. As soon as the recreant pair had quite disappeared Mr. Falconer tried to cool himself down, but it was a hard task. To be baulked in this way, just as he had been making sure of the grand object of his life, a high and wealthy marriage for Edith, and the consequent agerandisement of himself, was an over-grievous disappointment. ‘“‘T hope,” he began, pulling down his waistcoat and endeavouring to look at his ease ; ‘‘I hope, Sir Percival, that you will not think too much of this little scene. My daughter ts a foolish young thing, and this is but some little piece of perverseness that she will quickly get over. I assure you she had the warmest liking for you.” “Not at all. Tl tell you what it is; it’s my belief that we’ve both been done,” said Sir Percival, with slow and portentous solemnity. ‘““ Nonsense, nonsense; I never saw Edith show so marked a pre- ference for anyone as she did for you, until this mean fellow came like a snake in the grass wriggling himself into her favour.” But Sir Percival Hunt was unappeased. ‘I’ve been made a cat’s- paw of, if that’s what you mean; I see it all now, a.regular cat’s-paw,” said he, still with a weighty solemnity of manner, notwithstanding that his language was undignified. ‘My dear Sir Percival, I assure you you are quite mistaken. ‘This is but some little passing whim. Is it likely that ‘my daughter would prefer a man in his position, a beggarly tutor, to yourself ?” | The youthful baronet stared aghast. ‘‘What do you mean, Mr. Falconer? I wish I were half as well off as Russell! He’s as rich as Croesus, and an earldom in, perspective.” Bein It was the elder man’s turn to stare now. Wakening up, he leaned COLPMICE LOO KS, EO)