The Argosy — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

30 My Saturdays. afternoon, with an indulgent father-of-his-people air; Captain Perth and his daughters came from Fir Grove to see how I should get on—lI fear with a mild expectation that I should fail, and that they would be able to bear it. ‘The Doctor was there, and of course had to go away in the middle; the Curate came early and stayed late, with a vigorous determination to enjoy himself; various young men, come down for Sunday, accompanied their families or hosts ; and there were two groups of county people, not often captured at Tamston entertainments. Tennis was started at once, Archibald diligently doing his duty by Lucilla; tea and talk were soon in full swing among little knots under the trees; and I looked round at the populated garden with pardonable complacency. Rhoda Lingard and young Mr. Minton played the first game against Archibald and Lucilla; and when it was finished, I arranged the next to include the Professor, who was a capital player. Meantime the quartette were taking tea together, and I took the opportunity of introducing one of Archie’s friends to Lucilla, to break up the pairs. I had introduced Archibald to Rhoda when the game began, and now they drifted into interested talk over their cups of tea. Lucilla and her new cavalier went off; but the others sat on, and after a time moved away, only to walk round and round the garden in eager conversation. ‘The Professor was absorbed in his game; the sides were so evenly matched that it was a long one, and when it was over, they kept possession of the ground, and turned it into a match. This was not fair to other people, but I would not interfere while Rhoda was engrossed. It was not often that she had a chance of a real talk with a clever man, and I knew how she would throw herself into it, and forget everything outside. So the Professor stood in readiness like a waiting cat, and sprang from side to side with feline rushes—his hair flapping, his face, for once, crimson, and his blue eyes aflame with the ardour of battle; while his wife and my nephew paced and talked. ‘The talk ended before the match did, and Rhoda came up to me, bright-eyed and radiant. “Vera, I am so happy. Mr. Rintowl has given me such hope. We can’t talk now; I will come in to-morrow afternoon, and tell you all about it. There! Edwin has finished his game: you won't mind our going early, will you? I want to talk to him so much. I am sure your party Is a great success; I have enjoyed myself beyond everything.” And as soon as she could draw away her hus- band from discussing his game and drinking cider-cup, they went off —Rhoda holding his arm, and evidently beginning to pour out her eagerness to him before they were round the corner of the house. The afternoon crept on as other afternoons do, and gradually people went off to their respective dinners; a few lingerers at tennis played on desperately, until my maids began to collect cups and saucers, and then, struck with remorse, they set to work to carry chairs ECOPMICLIOO KS, EO)