The Argosy — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

38 My Saturdays. “After all, no bores attacked Vera but myself,” Rhoda reported, ‘so here I am back again.” ‘“T did not expect you so soon,” he replied, coldly; ‘I knew you would find pleasant company at Mrs, Singleton’s.” ‘“‘T have induced Mrs. Singleton to bring her pleasant company in here, you see,” she rejoined, with persistent cheerfulness; ‘‘and now I am going to make her as good a cup of tea as she gives us.” ‘“‘T never drink tea,” responded her husband, sourly. “That is a pity,” I said; ‘for your wife makes it better than any- one I know, and she never will tell me where she gets it.” ‘“‘T must keep the monopoly of my one domestic success,” laughed Rhoda. ‘“‘Tt is an unexpected pleasure to me to learn that our house can offer any attraction to Mrs. Singleton, comparable with those which hers possesses for—us,” said the Professor, with pointed ill-temper. ‘‘Oh, I don’t much believe in its fascinations,” I said hurriedly, discomposed by the growing embarrassment of the situation. ‘I fancy my strawberries and cream are the most attractive things.” “They are: very attractive,” he answered, with intensified bitter- ness. Could I have said a worse thing? I bit my lip savagely in pure anger at my own blundering, and sat in stupid silence. Rhoda’s pretty eyebrows rose with a pained wrinkle, but the entrance of the servant with the tea-tray made a slight break. ‘The Professor seemed somewhat ashamed of himself, and handed me my cup of tea and all belonging thereto with assiduous politeness. Rhoda’s eyebrows went down, and as he returned to his chair near the table she touched his cheek with a caressing gesture. He caught her hand, kissed it passionately, and looked up into her eyes as if he would search her through and through. She flushed at the sudden action, but stooped and gently kissed his forehead. ‘The kiss subdued him; he let go her hand, and dropped back into his chair, where he sat very quiet for the rest of my visit, occasionally adding a remark to our chat. I did not stay longer than I could help; for I was sure that the moment I was gone Rhoda would slip down on her knees beside his chair, and he would throw his arms round her, and the demon would be exorcised for this while. But would it stay away ? For it was now clear to methat Professor Lingard believed—or thought that he believed—that his wife had per- sistedin going to my house this wetafternoon in order to meet Archibald. It would never occur to her that such an idea could have entered his mind, and he would never say it to her, and so the delusion would not be removed. If only I had seen it sooner, I might so easily have made all clear. Perhaps I might yet have an opportunity; but to show the Professor that I perceived his suspicions would be to fix them more firmly in his mind, as he would suppose that at least I saw grounds for them. Oh, what a mess I had made of this after CORNICE OOOKS (EO)