The Argosy — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

4 Winifred Power. quite so patiently to Sir John’s account of his distressing symptoms ; nor mask with quite so bland a smile the gravity of some of them. Altogether an odd, atmospheric change overhung The Limes— a change, vague but brooding like an impending storm: Mrs. Hatherley herself was affected by it, as are all feline creatures by electrical disturbances. Her eyes were brighter and more watchful ; her tread was stealthier ; her restlessness worse than ever. Gertrude was no longer staying at The Limes. Sir John, without assigning any precise reason, had asked Mrs. Burton if the bride-elect might have the shelter of her roof until the day for the wedding ; and the vicar’s wife had acceded to the request with eagerness. She was more anxious than she had ever been to conciliate the master of The Limes; and apparently did not remark, far less understand, the meaning of the neighbourhood’s new attitude. Mr. Burton, douce man, was one of those worthy souls (unhappily too rare) from whom gossip ran like water off a duck’s back. A few of the current reports did indeed make some small impression on him, and he repeated them to his wife; but she promptly put them down to “ jealousy— unadulterated jealousy ;” and he was far too goodnaturedly obtuse not to find comfort in agreeing with her. Sir John’s original intention was to have celebrated his wedding with great magnificence. But his brother-in-law’s death, he con- sidered, rendered this impossible—more especially as he would not delay his marriage, but hurried forward the arrangements for it, and fixed the earliest possible date compatible with the due publication of the banns. He settled that he and his bride should drive to the station from the church. ‘There was to be no wedding-breakfast, and no fuss of any kind. And the only person, save his own family, to be invited to the ceremony was Mrs. Burton. “ Dear me!” tittered Mrs Hatherley, upon hearing this. ‘ People will say you have lost money.” Mark looked up quickly ; perhaps in surprise at the tactless imper- tinence of the observation; one that his aunt would not have ventured upon a few months before. Sir John’s pale lips curled contemptuously as he answered: ‘‘ The best answer to that will be the diamond parure which I have ordered for Miss Dallas.” The parure arrived a day or two later, and nearly robbed Mrs. Burton of sleep. She gave an afternoon tea for the express purpose of exhibiting it, and strange to say the entertainment was a success ! The ladies whose rapid tongues had been so busy of late in stigma- tising Miss Dallas as an adventuress and in slighting her future husband arrested the flow of their eloquence at sight of these un- paralleled jewels. It was truly remarkable, the effect produced upon public opinion by these splendid gems. They certainly did not make Gertrude any better loved, but in some occult manner they caused her to be more COPMIE LOO KS,