The Argosy — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

16 Winifred Power. The Limes on Saturdays to stay until Monday. He was invariably kind to Gertrude; but so preoccupied with thoughts, or possibly anxieties, of his own, that fora long time he did not notice her troubled look. One day at last, it struck him. He was bidding her farewell, and as he took her hand she involuntarily raised her eyes to his with so despairing a glance that he felt a shock of surprise, ‘ Are you ill 2” he asked, kindly. ‘In mind, not in body,” answered Gertrude, with a wan smile. Mark murmured something which sounded like ‘* Poor soul!” and she winced a little at the pity, for she had not intended to provoke it. ‘‘T have made my bed, and must lie on it,” she said, and released her hand with a bitter laugh. As she turned, she met the watchful glance of Mrs. Hatherley. This woman’s stealthy observation of her never ceased! It was another exasperating element in Gertrude’s life. And Florence was even more insupportable than her mother. She was a dull, mechanical spy; and reported to Mrs. Hatherley everything that Gertrude did, from what she wore to what she eat ; from the letters she received, to the walks she took abroad; from the flowers that she tended, to the hours wearily consumed by her in the library with Sir John. One evening Gertrude went abruptly to her husband. Though full of a purpose of her own, her quick glance noted the sudden stealthy way in which on her entrance he thrust a bundle of papers into a drawer of the bureau by which he was standing. But she asked no questions: what were his affairs to her? ‘‘T wish,” she said, “‘ that you would get rid of Mrs. Hatherley and Florence. ‘Their presence is unbearable to me.” She did not make the request very graciously ; but it was simply wrung from her by her irritation. If it were granted—good ; but she would not plead for it. . ‘‘Nobody would be better pleased to get rid of them than I,” answered Sir John, with unusual promptitude. “Then why have you kept them here so long?” returned his wife. ‘For the reasons which generally lead one to be patient under burdens—a great deal of pity, mixed with some little duty.” This answer was received by Gertrude with inward contempt. She did not believe a word of it. After a pause, she said with some irony: ‘I presume your second reason—duty—would be satisfied by maintaining them away ?” ‘¢ Maintaining them ? Well, I suppose so,” Sir John replied slowly. He put his .fingers together, and scrutinised their tips, as though seeking in them some information. They were interrupted by the entrance of Mark. It was Satur- day, and he had arrived by the seven o’clock train. He looked unusually grave even for him, and greeted them absently, at the same time glancing at Gertrude rather as though her presence were in his way. CORMICMOOOKS Conn