The Argosy — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

74 George Considine. ‘* After a good deal of persuasion, Considine sat down at the card- table with Colonel Dixon. I did not care to play, and, pleading a slight headache as an excuse, took my cigar to a window-seat, with a view of making further observations. St. Just himself would not play, but walked about from one room to another, marking for billiards or looking over the hands of the half-dozen who were at. cards. He seemed to me to exercise the same singular fascination over all his guests, the young fellows especially. More than one lad I saw colour and start like a girl when the white hand rested on his shoulder, and the handsome head bent down over him. “TI got Considine away tolerably early, but not before he had pledged himself to dine there the following night ; and hearing this, I, too, accepted the invitation, which of course was extended to me. ‘The evening passed off in much the same way as the previous one had done, but that there was some high play. More than enough wine had been drunk before we left, and—well, I had to drive Considine home. I was more grieved and annoyed about it than I can tell you, and none the less so that I knew whose doing it was. St. Just played his part of tempter carefully and with infinite tact ; but it was he, I knew, who had filled Considine’s glass again and again, and proposed the higher stakes; and when George grew excited and angry through the quiet rebuke his host gave him, I had seen a gleam of something like satisfaction—a look in the grey eyes that startled me for a moment, and the recollection of which cost my friend a lecture next morning. He listened in moody silence to. what I had to say until I concluded. ““<«Tf you are wise, old fellow, you will break with St. Just and his set. You know as wellas Ido that they are no good. We saw enough last night to give us a fair idea of what goes on there. Why not go abroad and stay with your mother a few weeks? I be lieve 1t would do you good.’ ‘““He faced round on me at that. “<«'Thanks, Jack; but I believe I am old enough to choose my own friends and place ofresidence. I’m sorry if they don’t suit you; but the remedy les in your own hands.’ ‘T would not have borne the insult from any other man, Charlie ; but I could not quarrel with Considine. I looked at him steadily for a moment, waiting for an apology ; and when his eyes met mine, he came to me, holding out his hand. ‘“‘<T beg pardon, Jack. I didn’t mean that ; but you must let me go to the deuce my own way.’ ‘¢¢ There is no necessity for your going there at all, that I know of,’ I answered, laughing. ‘And you will send an excuse instead of going over to Walford to-day, eh?’ “* Hang it, a fellow must have something to do, and there is capital cover-shooting in the park,’ he said shortly, and with a slight frown. COPMICLIOO KS, (EO)