The Argosy — page 269: what you’re looking at

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

250 Winifred Power. and attentive to him always. But Sir John, while indulgent to his son in all respects but one, treated him with indifference. The one point on which he was not indulgent was money. Winifred was fain to confess that his generosity towards his relatives must repose on other (and, of course, higher) grounds than mere lavishness. Indeed, for the master of such a house, and the reputed owner of such wealth, Sir John was careful to the verge of avarice. Mark was reduced to live strictly on his own income, and was too proud, as well as too experienced, ever to ask for more. Every art and subterfuge had to be resorted to by Mrs. Hatherley and her daughters before they could obtain money for their personal wants; and of late it had even become a kind of joke among the tradespeople that Sir John would never pay a bill until the last possible moment. Many a man besides Sir John has become miserly from immense wealth. “Tle is beginning to get a little cranky,” people said, with an in- dulgent smile; although, considering his heart-disease, he looked wonderfully handsome and vigorous. Richard Dallas had accepted Sir John’s offer with great promptitude, and a week or two later presented himself at The Limes. Winifred noticed with some pain that adversity had not improved him. He had grown cold and cynical, and without looking at all shabby as to coats, bore about him the signs of recent ill-fortune and privation. But he set to.work at the catalogue with steadiness and intelligence, and Sir John was much pleased with him. Winifred was delighted: it was giving Richard the chance he needed. So the days passed pleasantly. Richard hard at work by day, joining the drawing-room circle in the evening; and sometimes walking out with the two young girls, generally by the side of Dolly. | “‘T hope they are not falling in love with one another,” thought Winifred. ‘Sir John would not like that.” When the catalogue was nearing completion, Sir John began to wonder how he should employ him next. ‘‘T think I must send him to the Hague to purchase several very rare editions which I hear will shortly be for sale there,” he said one evening when Richard was not present. “It is a question of spending some thousands, and, therefore I must have an agent of intelligence as well as honesty on whom I can rely.” “Mr. Dallas is certainly intelligent,’ murmured Mrs. Fane in a tone which implied that there was more doubt about the honesty. Winifred flushed; and Mark, noting it, said chivalrously, ** My father seems to me to have made an excellent choice in employing him.” ‘‘T flatter myself I understand character,” resumed Sir John. ‘‘ The young man tells me he hasa sister who is at present in London seeking employment. She has been teaching in a school at Turin.” Turin? Then it was Gertrude ! Winifred and her mother exchanged glances. EORNIE OOO KS (E(@) m