The Argosy — page 260: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Carr’s Companion. 241 Miles, too, releasing his mother and looking round with the eager gaze she knew so well, descried the shrinking figure in the background. “Ves, here she is; but you are only just in time,” said Lady Mary, playfully. She put out her hand, and drew Viola forward, with a little touch of unconscious solemnity in the act. And then there was no more hesitation. Miles madeone step. His right arm still hung helpless in its sling, but the other sufficed to clasp her closely to him in a caress of unspeakable tenderness, and, without more words, Viola understood that her perplexities were all at an end, and her fate decided. Miles, in day-dreams during his months of exile, had often pictured to himself that peaceful hearth, with the soft shine of fire and candle- light falling upon the familiar home-faces ; perhaps, with the hopeful- ness of a boyish nature, he had sometimes even imagined the circle widened out to take in ‘‘ A nearer one Still, and a dearer one Yet, than all other.” And now, behold! the wild, venturesome fancies realised at last ! The traveller’s return, so much sooner than expected, was owing to no plot of Thorold’s—as Viola in her secret heart at first believed — but simply to the good fortune of a favourable passage. **T gave you the utmost limit,” said Thorold, answering her accus- ing look, ‘‘for I knew you would all be waiting, and watching, and tormenting yourselves over every hour’s delay, and when I heard early this morning that the 47¢y// was in sight, 1t seemed better to announce its arrival ourselves, and enjoy the pleasure of your surprise. You forgive me, don’t you, Viola?” Viola, with a hand held fast in Miles’s, and a great load of doubt and pain lifted from her heart, smiled him a re-assuring answer. “Ah, yes! You have not heard that story yet, Miles! You don’t know that Viola proposed giving you the fatigue of a trip to Town in search of her. Indeed, her trunks are probably packed, and her labels written at this moment! Perhaps she will go all the same; she is very independent!” Viola’s gentle, ‘“* Please don’t, Lady Mary!” was drowned in Miles’s hearty : “No, that she won’t. She came here to please herself, as Mrs. Carr’s Companion ; she shall remain to please me—as mine!” THE END, VOL XXXVL asic Q* ECORnNICOOOKS»E®