The Argosy — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Carr's Companion. | 61 truly worthy a man. It will give me great pleasure to know you are happily settled—so near us, too, and ———” “Stop! stop! Lady Mary, it is all a mistake! Oh! I never dreamed of this!” “Tt has come upon you suddenly, I see ; but on reflection ——” ‘‘No reflection is necessary, Lady Mary. What he asks is impos- sible! totally impossible!” cried Viola with vehemence. Lady Mary sat on, serenely unmoved. What was all this flutter and perturbation to her, calmly confident in her power of bending all things and people to her will ? ‘Miss Keith, be reasonable. By this offer Mr. Vaughan pays you the highest compliment in his power. Any other lady in the place would feel only too much flattered by his preference. St. Jude’s is worth £500 a-year, and gives its incumbent a position of some importance among the clergy here.” ‘Tt is impossible,” said Viola, for all answer. “Why impossible, may I ask? You may not at present entertain the strong preference for Mr. Vaughan which a girl ought to feel for the man she marries, but this will come all in good time. He is young, good-looking, popular, sufficiently clever—what can you want more ?” ‘Indeed, Lady Mary, he is all that you say. He has my entire respect and esteem ; but—I don’t want to marry him.” Lady Mary contemplated Viola doubtfully for a moment, with a half-frown on her brow—she was so little used to have her wishes thwarted. At last she spoke: “‘ Miss Keith, from this strange be- haviour, I can only conclude that—there is someone else ?” The end of her sentence took the form of a question as she touched, significantly, Viola’s left hand, where, on the third finger, shone an unobtrusive gold guard-ring—the only ornament she ever wore. Viola’s face was turned from her; Lady Mary saw only the tip of a small, suddenly-crimsoned ear, as for answer came a low- breathed ‘‘ Yes.” ‘Not Captain Kane?” with sudden suspicion, and a quick with- drawal of her hand. ‘No! oh, no!” But Viola added nothing to her vehement denial, as Lady Mary had perhaps expected. ‘Very well. I don’t wish to force your confidence,” she said, ever so little stiffly. ‘‘In that case there is no more to be said.” There was an embarrassed pause, during which Viola seemed striving for courage to make some confession. It was broken by a loud ring at the front-door bell, the work of a nervous hand. Lady Mary looked at her watch. ‘ Half-past ten! It must be Mr. Vaughan. He asked permission to come and receive his answer from your own lips. Iam sorry for him; but it is as well that he should learn his fate at once. I will leave you to explain.” Viola started up, ready to fly like a startled fawn. ‘Oh, no, dear connicloooks (C(O) mn