The Argosy — page 284: what you’re looking at

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

Winifred Power. 263 bute to his own offspring would enable them and all their descend- ants to live—through a mere survival of the fittest.” The three girls laughed and clapped their hands; but Mr. Dallas sat with a slightly contemptuous smile upon his face. His wife looked a little—just a little—scandalised. “You bad boy!” she said. ‘‘ What a character to give your family. I am sure dear papa is too sensitive” (Mr. Dallas involuntarily straightened himself); “‘and then there is Gerty, poor child !—I wish she felt things less,” “Ah! I suppose Sir Guy de Dallas de Malaventure did spill a few drops,” answered Richard carelessly, but with a softened glance at his good little step-mother, whom he had the grace honestly to love. “It is plain he did,” said Dolly; “for you would not have that sling on now.” “That's what I call a pretty speech,” said Mrs. Dallas kindly. “I do believe dear Dolly feels more for you than any of us.” Whereupon Dolly blushed furiously—partly with shy consciousness, partly with a naif pleasure. And shesaid, in a voice that thrilled with mixed feeling: “It is natural I should feel sorry for him, 1s it not?” Only natural because you do not know what a mere scratch my wound is,” said Dick smiling, rather flattered. ** A scratch? nonsense!” said Dolly gaily. ‘This is a scratch. The Princess, Badoura” (nodding at the Dallases’ white Persian cat) “‘ cave it me the other day—with a will too. But Idon’t carry my arm in a sling,” and she held out her pretty, round wrist for his in- spection. Dolly had charming hands: a little brown in colour, but slender and graceful and expressive. Dick took the one extended to him, and let it lie for a moment in his own sinewy palm. Its beauty struck him: its warm touch was magnetic: he pressed it, and looked from the hand to the face. That was pretty also—in just the same brown, piquant way. She had very bright vivacious eyes and a spark- ling smile, her teeth gleaming like pearls beneath lips as scarlet as the flower of a pomegranate. Between her warm, soft prettiness, her quick, deft ways, and the touches of rich colour, never wanting to her soberest dress, Dolly always reminded one of a small tropical bird. And her quaint practical mind and manner accentuated this physical charm. Dick had noticed all this before: vaguely, as one notices when but slightly interested. Now, for the first time, he jelt it. He had been secretly wounded by Winifred’s studied in- difference ; he was touched now by Dolly’s frank sympathy. Her glance faltered and softened as his own met it. They were standing behind Mrs, Dallas’s capacious armchair. “ Let us see this scratch,” said Richard, in his cool, insouciant way. He bent his head lower: the little hand trembied: then, the next moment rested joyfully in his clasp, for, unseen by everybody but its owner, he had kissed it. Connicloooks (CO)