The Argosy — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Carr’s Companion. - 57 day,” she said to herself, ‘‘ when it belongs to Rose I may enjoy it all quietly at my leisure, but ‘doing a place’ is quite another thing, and I have exhausted all my notes of admiration for the present. ‘This is repose! Those lovely pictures to refresh me, and the pleasure of dwelling upon them in silence.” But gradually the silence and the solitude and the somnolent influence of the large wood-fire, near which Olive was seated, prevailed even over the beauties of the great artists’ pencils. Olive closed her eyes and sank into a slumber which had lasted at least ten minutes, when a slight sound near at hand roused her, and opening her eyes she perceived John Thorold standing before her with a perplexed expression of countenance, which changed to one of relief as she started up colouring with a mixture of pleasure and vexation. The next instant she was angry with herself for her foolish embarrassment, as Thorold came forward with a matter-of-fact greeting, and began excusing his intrusion. “Colonel Kane wished to see me on business directly I returned to St. Brenda’s, I was told that I should find him here.” “He was here a little time ago, but has gone to show the gardens to mamma and Rose.” Her tone was chilling, for she wished to disown the blush that had greeted him. Then I will ride over again to-morrow.” Half-relieved, half-sorry, Olive saw him preparing to go, but with a sudden impulse he turned. ““I hope, Miss Egerton, you have quite recovered the effects of your accident? It seems long since it happened, but I believe we have not met since.” ‘Thanks, I am nearly well again. By-the bye,” she began with a voice which she vainly tried to steady; “‘I have been wishing to thank you. You saved me. I can never forget it, nor the gratitude I owe you.” For one moment she was her natural self as she held out her hand to him with a wistful eagerness which was almost too much for -his prudence. He took it and held it a moment in his own while his eyes lighted up. ‘ Nay,” he said, ‘‘ there is no question of gratitude between you and me, Olive ; you must know that! Were we not old friends and com- panions? Perhaps I got bewildered with my ducking, for as I carried you up the bank I seemed to forget the intervening years, and to hold in my arms once more my child-playmate, my little companion of long ago. It might have been the Kingston meadows round us and the river rippling below; a ridiculous delusion, wasit not? But, believe me, I soon came to my senses.” With a pained look at Olive’s averted face he dropped the hand he had been holding. “Don’t be afraid, Miss Egerton ; I lost my head for a moment with the suspense and anxiety, and may have said and thought I don’t know what wild things, for which I ask your pardon. But rest assured I shall never repeat the offence. In my waking moments I am not likely to forget CORnNICOOOKS.EO