The Argosy — page 294: what you’re looking at

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

Mr. Landon. 275 Mabel stood, pale and shamefaced, beside her. ‘‘ Oh, mamma, come away!” she said. ‘Dear Mabel,” said Mr. Landon, kindly and anxiously, “‘ what is the matter? Are you not well?” ‘No, I am not well,” answered Mabel, without knowing what she said. ‘“‘ But you, Mr. Landon—did you—didn’t you—?” She stopped abruptly, colouring violently, and not knowing how to put her question into words. She felt that she cou/d not ask him why he had been dancing so solemnly by himself in her father’s study, and making such dreadful faces all the time he danced. ) ““ Mabel, I must insist on an explanation,” said her mother. Mabel burst into tears. Mr. Landon was much distressed, and repeated several times that she certainly must be ll. Mrs. Middleton drew her daughter’s hand within her arm, and led her away into her own room. ‘There she made her sit quietly down, and after a few minutes she said: ‘“‘ Now, my dear Mabel, you really must explain what this means.” ‘‘ Mamma,” said she, with a violent effort, ‘‘ he frightens me.” My dear child! he—Mr. Landon—frighten you! But how is it possible? How can that gentle, cheerful, tender, devoted man frighten you?” Mabel hid her face and tried to speak, but could not. At last, taking courage, she said, desperately, ‘‘He makes faces!” and then sat still, with hidden face, trembling violently. She did not see her mother’s look of blank wonder and dismay. There was a little pause. “Well, my dear,” said Mrs. Middleton at last, ‘‘I think you are not quite well.” And gently taking Mabel’s trembling little hand into hers, she slid her fingers on to the wrist, and felt her pulse. ‘‘ Mamma, I am not ill—but he does—he does ts “Oh, never mind that, love. Many people do; there is nothing in that; don’t think about it, or care for it—yes, of course—but you shall lie down here quietly on the sofa, and I will send you up some tea and toast. Don’t attempt to come down to breakfast.” And Mabel submitted without a word, and allowed her mother to place her on the sofa, and make her quite comfortable. Then, when left alone, she shut her eyes and endeavoured to compose her- self. “It is such nonsense,” thought she; ‘‘there can’t be anything in it—there is nothing that it caz mean. How foolish I am to be frightened! I daresay I more than half fancied it.” And then she stopped to wonder at herself for supposing ¢haf possible. Fancied that solemn dance, and those horrible faces! Mrs. Middleton sent one of the boys off for the doctor immediately, and told her husband that she had done so, and that Mabel was not well. Mr. Landon was most properly distressed when he heard of her indisposition, and blamed himself. He feared he had made her walk and talk too much, and he volunteered to go away for the COMMICOOOKS.Cc©