The Argosy — page 267: what you’re looking at

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

248 On the liver. cold, hard world. Ah me! to think that Jack, who was so strong, should have been taken, and little me left to face life alone !” “You have your child.” Unconsciously his tone has grown a | little stern again, “Darling Queenie! Yes. But it zs dull sometimes, and one wants someone to consult—to lean on.” ‘‘And you think to find that someone in Reginald Vane?” He is sorry the next moment to have blurted out the words, but it is too late to recall them. She flashes a glance at him, and he meets it steadily, expecting to be assailed with a torrent of feminine wrath, but is taken aback at meeting instead a sudden burst of tears. ‘Mrs. Fairfax—what a brute I am !—forgive me. I have lived so much alone that I have fallen into a dreadful habit of speaking my thoughts aloud.” ‘But how came you to have such thoughts?” ‘Could I help it? Only last night I heard your names coupled together by the voice of common gossip, and to-day have I not seen some confirmation of the report? And I would not presume to find fault, though I was once not only Jack’s friend, but almost a rough elder brother to you in the forgotten days of long ago.” “Not forgotten,” murmurs a stifled voice; ‘‘only I wondered why you never came to see me.” “Tt was best not. I—-—. Jack loved and trusted me—his mentor, as he used to call me, poor boy! But now—now, Nina, I cannot but think of the old days when I see you about to take an irretriev- able step with one whom I cannot think worthy ——” “You are jealous! Our grave Colonel actually condescending to such a weakness! And pray, may I ask, what makes you think Sir Reginald Vane unworthy—I don’t say of little me—but of any good thing the world can bestow ?” ‘‘ His dishonourable conduct towards another woman. Forgive me, Nina—heaven knows I would sooner bite my tongue out than say it—but he is playing a double part in this; making up to you for your fortune, while his heart—what heart he has to give—belongs to Miss Elliot. I saw him by her side last night. I watched the looks and signs that passed between them, and I speak solemn truth when I say that I believe he has won that poor girl’s affections, and that in sober earnest he cares for her. And now that I have said my say, and brought a cloud over the face I have always connected with heaven’s sunshine, I will go my way; only asking that, as time softens your anger, you will try to think a little kindly of me. Here is your landing-place.” And he pulls the boat into the tiny creek, and, resting on his oars, waits for her to spring ashore, and give him his final gesture of dismissal. But Nina does not move. Her head is bent down, and so overshadowed by her hat that he cannot read the expression of the faintly-flushed face. Gomichbooks,. Go m