The Argosy — page 291: what you’re looking at

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

272 Mr. Landon, the dear father and mother; and then we must give parties—stately dinner parties and brilliant balls—and then, when we have had our fill of gaiety, fly off to Africa for a bit.” As they talked, Mabel had moved forward to a little table to arrange some flowers in a vase that stood upon it, and her delicate fingers were busy with lilies and roses. A slight pause made her glance round at her lover, who, to her amazement, she found was making the most horrible grimaces, and pointing at her with his finger in a manner which, for the moment, struck her as quite shocking. She uttered an exclamation, but he changed his position and com- posed his countenance so rapidly that, with a bewildered sensation, she almost fancied her eyes had deceived her; and, as he immediately resumed the conversation, she felt too timid to say anything about what she had seen. Half an hour more of the delightful talk common to lovers put everything else out of her head, and the rest of the evening was spent most agreeably with the family, who assembled at the usual hour for tea. The next day everything was couleur-de-rose, and Mabel, in her new happiness, wondered how it was that anybody ever had care or trouble. ‘What a beautiful world it is,” said she to Mr. Landon, as they were strolling together in the little wood near the Rectory. ‘“‘ Beautiful? yes,” he cried; ‘“‘it is beautiful. “ It is a world of pleasures, and every pleasure brings duties along with it, which make it doubly dear. The ties that are to bind us, my darling, will give us new duties that we never had before, and if we buy a house we shall have duties to perform to the poor people, and to our dependants and servants.” ‘That is a charming way of putting it,” said Mabel, looking up to him with tender reverence. ‘‘ How good you are! you must tell me of all my duties, and show me what I ought to do.” ‘We will tell and show each other,” replied he, ‘‘ setting out with the one principle, that every fresh step we take brings fresh duties along with it, and that they are all the consequences of our happiness, and therefore to be considered as part of it, and valued accordingly.” ‘You are so rich,” said Mabel, ‘‘and riches carry such responsi- bilities with them. Now I have never been rich, you know, so all the duties I have known anything about are those belonging to— well, not actual poverty—but to having to do all sorts of things, and be as useful as one can.” ‘“‘T shall like making you rich,” he cried, smiling. ‘It is much nicer than if you had always been well off; everything will seem so pleasant to you.” She gave him a grateful look and smile. ‘‘ What have I done to be so happy ?” she said softly. And so they passed on into the woods. Into the woods, where their feet trod on the delicious moss carpet, while flowers blossomed m CONNICIOOKS(6@)