The Argosy — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

10 Winifred Power. There was hardly a line in it which did not contain a sting; and the hints about Mark made her positively indignant ; and yet, taken as a whole, what a diverting production it was! Mrs. Burton was one of those persons with whom nobody, blessed with a sense of humour, could feel angry long; and, though beginning to read the letter a second time with a frown, Winifred, before she reached the end of it, was fain to laugh. “Tt is too bad of Florence not to have written. I suppose the wedding was azw/fu//y nice?” Dolly in her pet modern jargon en- quired, encouraged by these signs of good humour. “It was as quiet as possible—perhaps on account of Uncle Walter,” answered Winifred, with a sigh. ‘‘That is a disappoint- ment, isn’t it Dolly? You think a marriage without ‘ trimmings no marriage at all?” ; ‘‘T am not quite so foolish,” replied the literal-minded Dolly, with some dignity. ‘‘I know somebody to whom I would go to be married in a hackney cab and a travelling-dress.” ‘““ Heroic!” commented Winifred, and again she laughed. Doro- thy’s perfect frankness about her feelings never failed to amuse her, probably by its contrast with her own proud reserve. The absolute selfcomplacency that never doubts of ultimate success is of all ballast the surest with which a human soul can launch itself upon the troubled sea of life. Richard had not shown as yet the faintest sign of being in love; nevertheless Doily Dallas would have gone at least the length of Traddles and bought a first instalment of her furniture. While they were thus talking, a hurried rap at the studio door preceded the entrance of Mrs. Dallas. ‘“My dears!” said the good little woman, all in a flutter, ‘‘ have you heard the news? Dear Gerty has actually persuaded Sir John to come on to Paris.” ) “Like any bride and bridegroom of the times—such centuries off they seem—when the Empire still was!” said Winifred, gaily. The fateful 18th March was yet ten days or so in the future, and dwellers in Paris were curiously unprophetic of it. But the great city was still plunged in the stupor, and steeped in the shabbiness left by the first siege ; and pleasure-seekers among its visitors were rare. ‘She writes from Dover. They will be here in less than a week, and only stay three days!” Mrs. Dallas added, all excitement. Her whole mind was absorbed by the thought how best to welcome and most worthily to entertain the travellers. And when the eventful day of arrival dawned, Winifred and Dorothy were pressed into the service of her preparations. The former, of course, did not wish to meet Sir John; and went home before the hour that he was expected. But late in the evening, after Martha Freake had gone to bed, she sat alone wondering whether she could see Gertrude, and learn something of Mark, CORNICE OOO KS (E©)