The Argosy — page 256: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Carr’s Companion. 237 diamond,’ though why a man must needs be a diamond because he is rough, I never can understand !” “ Aunt Charlotte, you mistake,” Olive began indignantly. ‘There, there, don’t excite yourself, child,” her aunt interposed quickly. ‘Perhaps under the circumstances you could not be expected to do better for yourself. It is not everyone who would care now to be connected with—” Olive started up, regardless of the restraining hand Lady Mary laid upon her arm, as she turned upon her a look of appeal, which seemed to say like the Mexican chief upon the rack to his companion in torture: ‘Am / upon a bed of roses?” Her patience had come to an end, and with an abrupt “‘ Excuse me, mother,” she hurried from the room. Lady Mary sank back in her chair. She was at her sister-in-law’s mercy, and could only endure in silence the re-opening of wounds that were still smarting. Olive rushed tumultuously up and down steps, and along passages, to Viola’s room, and began, white with indignation: ‘‘I can bear no more, Viola; pray go and rescue mamma from Aunt Charlotte’s clutches. She is enough to drive one wild! Don’t lose a moment. They are alone together.” Meantime, Lady Mary, left defenceless, was making a desperate effort to turn the conversation on pleasanter subjects, and spoke of Miles. For a moment her sister-in-law’s eyes lost their cynical expression. “Miles! Ah! we are all proud of Miles! I trust he may come back safe, though one can never tell when these cases may take a bad turn.” Mrs. Carr’s ominous shake of the head sent a pang to the mother’s heart, but she tried to shake off the impression, and roused herself to say cheerfully : ‘““Come, Charlotte, we must hope for the best.” “Yes; there is no harm in that. I have nothing to say against Miles. He is a good fellow, though I shall always maintain not one bit too good for Viola Keith, or Viola Romayne, as I suppose every- one will have to call her now.” The malicious twinkle in Mrs. Carr’s eyes was not needed to point the shaft under which Lady Mary visibly writhed. ‘She will be called Viola Egerton, I fancy, as soon as Miles can manage it,” said Lady Mary, with a faint smile. ‘“Ah ! the wounded hero must have his way, of course. And you have had to give in after all. Another of your mistakes, Mary! But of course, even the wisest of us can’t be infallible in our judgment.” Here the curtain was pushed aside, and Viola came quickly up to them, never more welcome, to one at least of the pair. H Dear Lady Mary ! how glad I am to see you out of your room at last !” “And how glad I shall be to find myself back in it!” murmured Lady Mary, as she rose with scarcely concealed impatience. “ Viola, ECORNICOOOKS EO