The Argosy — page 271: what you’re looking at

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

252 Winifred Power. Mrs. Fane went on reading for a little space in silence. ‘ When is Mark to be back ?” she suddenly asked. ‘Not for a fortnight, mamma.” Winifred was extremely surprised and angry with herself to feel how the unexpected question had brought a rush of blood to her face. She hoped her mother did not see it, and continued her painting in an agony of puzzled embarrassment. Mark had started for Scotland that morning on his usual business, and Winifred was missing him much more than she would have owned to herself. “Then when he returns, Miss Dallas will already be installed at The Limes,” after another pause remarked Mrs. Fane. “Well ?” said Winifred. ‘*T daresay he will admire her very much.” Winifred mixed her colours with great accuracy; changed one brush for another ; and began to work on another part of her picture before she replied. And then it was with an appeal. “You will be kind to Gertrude, mother, will you not ?” “Tam not aware, my love, that I am ever deliberately unkind to anybody. I may be mistaken, of course, but I have never been accused of it, and I have had many tried and valuable friends : although perhaps you would not have cared for them, darling.” “IT did not mean to offend you,” said the girl, humbly. ‘‘ But I am anxious, very anxious,” (with strong emphasis) “that Gertrude should have a fair chance at The Limes.” “*T shall not interfere with her; and you may be as Quixotic as you please. ‘That’s all, Winifred.” So matters were arranged by Sir John with Miss Dallas, and she came to Elmsleigh to enter upon her engagement. With a shrinking which she did not care to analyse, Winifred allowed one clear day to elapse after her arrival before she went to see her. She found her already installed in the schoolroom, with Dolly and Florence. Condemned to study again after their long period of liberty, they were both looking very doleful indeed. Winifred entered with a beating heart, but was frozen on the very threshold by the coolness with which Gertrude rose to receive her. ‘¢T will take you into the conservatory for a little chat when I have set my pupils their tasks,” she said, composedly. Winifred’s sense of humour was greatly roused by the sight of the poor pupils. They had been vanquished, but a certain sulkiness betrayed their inward rebellion. When they presently brought their copybooks for correction, Gertrude seated—a picture of elegance and beauty in a luxurious arm-chair—took occasion to harangue them on the advantages of self-help, and to inform them that if they wished to learn anything thoroughly they must learn it unaided. ‘““My system is that you should do all that is possible without any assistance from me. Naturally you will make mistakes, but these mistakes, in course of time, will correct themselves. Here Gomicbooksneo m