The Argosy — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Carr’s Companion. } 59 pany was too great for me. It is a whole week since |] have seen you, and now that we meet at last you reproach me for coming. You were kinder in London.” “Was I? That was different. Ah, those were happy days!” she said, with a little dreamy sigh that emboldened him to take her hand. ** Dearest !” But he had gone too far. Even Rose’s drowsy conscience was sometimes awakened. “Captain Kane! What are you thinking of? It is time this folly was atan end. Do you forget that three weeks to-morrow is my wedding-day ?” She drew herself up with pretty dignity, and began moving towards the house. “TI do not need reminding of the fact,” he muttered, so low and sorrowfully that she could barely catch the words. She walked on, with head erect and slightly heightened colour, but at a pace which allowed him to regain her side. As they passed into the house by a side door, he bent down to her, saying humbly, ‘‘ Forgive me!” There was not time for words, but her smile seemed to satisfy him, and there was a look of almost triumph on his face as he went to take leave of his uncle and Lady Mary before riding back to barracks. Rose, meantime, escaped upstairs under pretence of seeking Olive. Colonel Kane would have followed, but she waved him back, and hurried alone, fleet as a fawn, up ‘the broad, shallow staircase. Before entering the picture-gallery, she paused by an open window to cool her flushed cheeks before meeting Olive’s eye. She need not have been afraid. Olive was too pre-occupied herself to notice anything unusual in her sister’s manner. It was difficult to say which of the two girls was the most distrait and absorbed during the long drive home. A very silent one it proved. ‘The sisters leaned back in their re- spective corners, lost in reveries which ran in very different channels. Now that the trying day was over, there was a wearied look on Rose’s face, very different from the triumphant glow which still tinged her mother’s. ‘The day had been one of unmixed satisfaction to Lady Mary. She was pleased, even beyond her anticipations, with her host’s beautiful home; pleased with himself and his attentions ; pleased with the prospect of unalloyed happiness in store for her daughter, whom, with a mother’s pride, she acknowledged was well fitted to grace the position fate had allotted to her. The day-dreams in which she had indulged, even over her children’s cradles, seemed upon the point of realisation ; and Lady Mary Egerton was a proud and happy woman. COMIC OOO SS (C(O) mn