The Argosy — page 203: what you’re looking at

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

186 Wintfred Power. ‘‘T am sure you are not naturally musical. You never /vy to play or sing, do you?” enquired the boy with perceptible anxiety. ‘‘ Never,” said Gertrude, and this time she smiled. A faint light broke the steady glory of Ned’s glance, and he said: ‘*T should like to have you very much.” ‘Then that is settled,” exclaimed Mr. Graham, with unmistakable relief. ‘‘Can you come directly, Miss Dallas?” “To-day, if you like.” “That is splendid. I shall expect you at six o’clock,” He convoyed them back into the drawing-room, briefly settled the business part of the question, and hurried them away. “He wants to be at work on his dictionary,” remarked Ralph when they found themselves in the quiet surburban road. ‘He is an Egyptologist. There is something Sphynx-like about the whole concern, isn’t there? But you could not have got into a better berth, Gerty ; especially under the circumstances. ‘They never see a soul, and know nothing of what goes on in any other portion of the globe. A person pressingly ‘ wanted’ would be safer there than in Sweden.” Gertrude winced. ‘Do you know that I have no clothes with me? And you took half my money last night. What have you done with that which you obtained by the sale of my jewels? You promised to keep only a share for yourself, in case I did as I have done, and left The Limes.” Ralph walked on in silence, looking a little red. ‘‘ Really, Gerty, you have no delicacy,” he presently said, in a tone of fastidiousness. “Delicacy ?®’ Gertrude burst out laughing. ‘I suppose that means that you have spent it all? Well we will say no more, then, about my share of the sale,” she went on, good-naturedly enough. ‘But clothes I must have. Can you get me a few: on credit, or otherwise ? ” T will try,” said Ralph, magnificently. And in some inexplicable way known only to the race of Micawbers, Colonel Quince did manage within a few hours to provide her with a sufficient outfit to make a decent appearance in. ‘‘Well, good-bye, Gerty,” he said, when putting her into the cab. “You will do honour to my recommendation. Graham is quite a gentleman,” Gertrude wondered very much how her uncle had ever managed to become acquainted with Mr. Graham; but her curiosity was soon gratified. For during the téte-a-téte dinner between herself and her employer, the latter said: “I think my son is really improving in health, for you are the second stranger to whom he has taken kindly within the last month. The first was your uncle.” Gertrude tried not to look surprised. ‘We made his acquaintance on the pier at Brighton. He amused Ned all the morning telling him stories about South America. And one night when the poor lad was moaning in pain, Mr. Mercer, who or wy a mw hry a 2 te - Gomicbooks (E(@)