The Argosy — page 272: what you’re looking at

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

Winifred Power. 253 are your tasks for to-morrow,” indicating an appalling number of pages. “I shall limit myself to explaining, when necessary, the prin- ciples to which you must find the particular applications.” There was a pause; Florence began to cry. Then Dolly, a thought more spirited, said, “‘I am sure my uncle will want us long before we have finished.” ‘Tf Sir John really requires you, I shall give you leave to go. But I shall tell him that I object to frivolous interruptions,” answered Gertrude, calmly. Her pupils gasped. “Tell him!” WDolly’s exclamation died away helplessly; and, leaving them to their amazement, Miss Dallas swept out of the room and into the conservatory. ‘‘T think it is rather a shame of you to put upon those two foolish little things,” exclaimed Winifred, with some heat. “My dear,” said Gertrude, examining some japonicas with a critical air, “I know what I am about. ‘The experience of the last six months has not been thrown away upon me. I intend to play second fiddle in the world’s orchestra no longer.” Winifred was silent. She had expected some humility. ‘‘T am young, and I think I may flatter myself neither stupid nor ugly,” continued Gertrude, turning her rings round her white fingers. ‘‘ Fate has been against me hitherto, but I shall try to rise superior to it in future.” “Do you intend to work?” asked Winifred, curtly. ‘“‘If necessary,” answered her friend. ‘‘I have come here (and, by-the-bye, I ought to thank you, Winifred, for having been the means, through Dick, of securing me the place), to keep my eyes and ears open. In Paris, where as you know, my life was one long toil, I was a failure. But allthatis past. In future I hope to be successful.” Winifred turned, thoroughly chilled and disappointed. Gertrude’s vague boasts jarred upon her common-sense and her honesty. Almost she began to ask herself if she had been right in introducing her to The Limes. ‘‘ Good-bye,” she said, rather listlessly, as she held out her hand. For a moment Gertrude’s face wore a softer expression. ‘ You were always kind to me———” she began, when Winifred eagerly interrupted her. ‘If you would only be true, dear!” she exclaimed, her cheeks flushing and her eyes kindling, as Gertrude yielded her hands to the clasp that had so warmly seized them. Once more Gertrude’s mood changed. ‘‘ Don’t try to recall me to the sylvan glades of sentiment,” she said, with a light laugh and a shrug of her graceful shoulders. Those were all very well in our buttercup days, but now our paths have diverged. You are a good soul, Winifred, but you must leave me to go my own road. I promise you not to do anything very base or mean. Cease to distress yourself, dear ; I shall not be the less honest for not being ‘goody.’ Good-bye.” GOmiGcbdooksncom (A)