The Argosy — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

64 Ugly and Stupid. One hot day in July, about six months later, three people were riding slowly up Hay Hill. Of these, one was Arthur Hamilton, the other two, Mr. and Mrs. Finsbury. ‘The lady was as pretty and charming as ever, her husband stolid and somewhat bored, while Arthur wore his most listless London air, spoke in the most languid of tones, and appeared wholly unimpressed by his companion’s smiles. : ‘““Do you know who that is?” she said, as she bowed to a tall figure in black, who was coming down the hill. “No,” he answered, ‘‘I did not look at her.” “Do you remember Miss Manners, that plain girl who acted at friar’s Park, that you got into such a scrape with, and devoted your- self to afterwards by way of making up for it? It was wrong of you, for she might have taken your attentions for meaning more than they did: I don’t suppose she is much accustomed to attention.” ‘Miss Manners! Yes, I remember her,” he said; and some- thing in his tone struck Mrs. Finsbury for the moment. She gave him a curious glance, but, reading nothing in his face, forgot it, and went on. ‘¢ She has just lost her father, poor girl. He was the only relation she had in the world, and he has left her penniless. She has some wild idea of going on the stage, which 1s foolish, as it does not follow that because a girl can act well in drawing-room theatricals she will ever make anything by it as a profession. However ——” “JT think [ll go and speak to her,” Arthur broke in, with the sudden impetuosity which always contrasted so oddly with his assumed indifference to everything; and before Mrs. Finsbury and her husband could speak he had turned his horse and galloped down the hill. He caught Miss Manners up in Berkeley Square, had dismounted, and was at her side before she was aware of his vicinity. A faint tinge of colour rose to her cheeks as he spoke to her. ‘‘T am so grieved to hear of your troubles,” he began hurriedly, but with such genuine sympathy in his tones that the girl turned away her head to recover composure before answering him. Arthur had probably had no distinct idea in hurrying after her, except the pleasure of seeing her for a moment; but the sight of her emotion put to flight any remnants of sense or self-control that were left him. With- out considering for a moment time, place, or circumstances, walking beside her with his bridle over his arm, he began ruthlessly : ‘Miss Manners, it is eight months since I last saw you, and in all that time I have never ceased to think of you. I love you as much as ever: more than ever. Don’t refuse to listen to me now. I can- not bear to think of your battling with the world alone. Gertrude, won’t you give me the right to shield you from all future cares ?” Two pretty girls riding home to luncheon with their father, bowed eraciously to Arthur at this moment, wondering at the vacant stare with which he received their salutations. They would have wondered EOMIC LOO KS, (E)