The Argosy — page 199: what you’re looking at

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

182 Wintfred Power. ‘‘ Listen to what I have to say,” she interrupted, with scant cere- mony ; and proceeded to relate all the particulars of the past four days’ events at The Limes. He listened attentively, with a growing expression of disapproval, and then answered dispassionately. ‘Vou have dished yourself this time, and no mistake.” Gertrude’s eyes flashed, and she retorted angrily. “Why did you ever send me there to plot and spy, and report secrets which I don’t believe existed out of your imagination ?” “They existed and they exist; of that be sure. But it is like my usual luck that you should have failed to discover anything.” “Luck !” repeated Gertrude in scorn. ‘f Why cannot you once for all cease from this disreputable way of living by your wits?” “Tt has not been successful of late, certainly,” he answered, can- didly. ‘‘ But you see, my too-impetuous niece, I have absolutely nothing else to live on. ‘To become a respectable member of society and seek to live upon my means would carry me with the utmest promptitude to the workhouse. You look very contemptuous, but you should not be hard upon me, Gerty, for on the very first day when— after your first little escapade—chance threw you across my path at Turin, I recognised you for a kindred soul. You, too, live by your wits, and experience the vicissitudes inseparable from the profession. We are bound to one another by community of experiences and ties of blood. We will sink or swim together.” Gertrude rose, fairly exasperated. ‘‘If you have nothing else to say to me, I had better go away.” *¢ Where ?.” . ‘‘T don’t know,” she said, turning hastily to the door; but for all her anger, her voice had a cadence of mournfulness. Perhaps Ralph Mercer felt it: at any rate he also rose and put his hand upon hers just as she stretched it towards the knob. ‘Sit down. Iam not much given to looking after people—but do you suppose I would let you run about the streets of London at this hour by yourself?” : ‘‘T may as well lose my time insthat way as in any other.” He pushed her gently into a chair, and rang the bell. On the house-damsel appearing, he asked for the landlady; and she, a little sulky but curious, presently dawned upon the scene. ‘Mrs, Marks,” began Colonel Quince very politely; “this is my niece—ah— Miss Dallas.” Mrs. Marks stared a little incredulously at the beautiful and elegant figure before her: but she only answered, ‘“‘ Yes, sir.” ‘She has come up from the country to seek employment as a governess, and for the present will remain here.” Mrs. Marks made no answer, but it is likely that this modest ac- count of Gertrude appealed to her sense of probabilities. At any rate her grim countenance relaxed somewhat. ‘You have a room upstairs vacant, I know,” continued Colonel EGomichbooksnco m