The Argosy — page 293: what you’re looking at

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

272 My Saturdays. Archibald received the tips of Lady Anderton’s primrose-gloved fingers, and I not much more, though she was determinedly polite to me. Oh, yes, she would take some tea, and so would her daughter, she was sure; they were confirmed tea-drinkers. And what a pretty place this was, and how near the river—so nice! She must really. walk all round it presently; she would not take up so much of my time, but Imogen knew it and would show her the way. Archie handed tea and cake ; but when he spoke to her step-daughter, Lady Anderton always answered, making herself a kind of mitrailleuse of commonplaces, and keeping all attacks at a distance with the pelting discharge. Imogen sat silent and pale, with an angry compression of the lips. At last I asked her if she would like to play tennis, but again her duenna interposed : “T can’t spare her guzte yet, Mrs. Singleton, please. I want to have my promised walk round your dear little place. Then she shall have a game, if she doesn’t think it too hot.” ‘‘T should be quite pleased to do the honours of my little green- house to you. I don’t think Miss Moville knows her way there, and some of my ferns are really good.” ‘Oh, thank you, it will be so kind of you to show them to us. I doat on ferns, but I never can remember their names ; Imogen knows all about them, though.” There was no freeing her, and we three walked off on our rounds. I tried to let Imogen drop behind, that Archie might come up to her ; © but she would not manceuvre, and he remained lounging ‘discon- solately by the deserted tea-table. We made our dull circuit, an uncomfortable party. At last the promenade could no longer be spun out without my active co-operation, and we returned to the seats under the trees. Archibald was not visible, and Lady Anderton relaxed guard, and began talking to old Mr. Merton. Imogen sat and fanned herself, and I let her alone. Presently Archibald came up to us looking graver than ever. He stood near and did not seem to know what to say. Imogen fanned herself faster, she glanced at him, and his changed and chilled mood breathed subily on her. Her face changed too, and her mouth took a steadier set, as if guarding itself against any betrayal of emotion. I felt the oppression of the silence, and broke it at last by asking him if he was going on the river that afternoon. “Tf Miss Moville will go with me,” he answered. ‘* Will you?” he said to her suddenly, almost sternly. She hesitated. ‘Iam not sure; I think ——” Lady Anderton turned sharply round. ‘Are you talking of going on the water? Oh, my dear Imogen, I could not think of allowing it. Iam so nervous; I should be miserable until you came back. Besides, here is Mrs. Minton, and I want you to talk to her; you know we were out when she called.” Archibald turned on his heel and went off with a stride; he stood COPMICLIOO; KS, (EO)