The Argosy — page 265: what you’re looking at

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

246 On the River. Vane renews his attentions to Queenie, but she, from some per- verse instinct of coquetry, bestows all her favours upon the Colonel, whose grave aspect would hardly prove attractive to children in general. Yet it melts into a kindly smile, as, lifting the little one on his knee, he glances from her face to that of the mother, older only by some eighteen years, and recalls the days when Nina Forrester had sat as confidingly on the knee of the shy young cornet. “You will let me scull you up the river, Mrs. Fairfax?” says Vane, as he puts down his tea-cup. ‘‘I have not forgotten” (here his voice takes a more tender inflexion) ‘our last expedition to Hampton Court.” Mrs. Fairfax looks doubtfully towards her other guest, who some- what stiffly observes: ‘‘ Don’t let me be any hindrance to your plans. Or perhaps you will allow me to take an oar in your service.” Vane’s face darkens, but the widow claps her hands and answers gaily: ‘Capital ! It would really have been hard work for ove alone in this heat.” : So Queenie runs to fetch her mother’s hat, but at the last moment finds the charms of a favourite kitten’s society irresistible, and elects to remain on terra firma herself. Vane pulls stroke, and the boat glides sntaie away from the emerald bank, and out into the glassy expanse of water, amid scores of others gaily laden with a similar freight, and looking as if playing their part in some holiday scene. “This has been very hard on me,” murmurs Vane, bending forward, so that his words are audible to the fair steerer only. ‘‘ My pleasant afternoon all spoiled, because —— ” ‘““Because you are a foolish, self-willed boy,” answers the little woman, who, albeit some four years his junior, sometimes likes to play at maternal airs. ‘Come, shake off your fit of the blues! be agreeable, and stay and dine with us.” “With ws? Are you going” (very low) “to invite that fellow too?” “Certainly Iam. He is one of my very oldest friends ”—(‘ old enough!” grumbles Vane)—‘“‘and I have not seen him for years. We have /eaps of things to say to one another.” “Then you will certainly get.through them better uninterrupted, : says Sir Reginald, in a spiteful sotto voce. Then aloud: “I am awfully sorry, Mrs. Fairfax, but I have just remembered that I have to dine out to-night. I am afraid I must ask you to land me at Surbiton, so that I can get home by train. Steer more to the nght, please ; you are running us into that barge.” “What, are you growing nervous?” and again that sweet clear laugh rings out, and Vane grinds his teeth as he feels, rather than sees, that a grim smile is overspreading the face behind him, When Surbiton is reached at length, he scarcely attempts to dis- guise his relief, as he springs ashore. ’ Gomicbooks (E(@) m