The Argosy — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

The White Witch. 109g “But the waggonette will be overcrowded !” Mr. Mayne stamped his foot. He hated opposition and was getting impatient. She looked at his kind old face once more and decided. In an instant she had flown upstairs, and before her mother had reached the hall-door the blushing, guilty girl was by her side, glad to hide her confusion by drawing on her gloves, while Mr. Mayne exult- ingly told his wife of his change of plan. She said very little, as usual, but was evidently much annoyed. ‘They were going to take the three eldest Thornhill girls, and with the extra person the waggonette would be inconyeniently crowded. Godfrey was vexed too; he hardly knew why. For one thing, Mary Dixon’s hurried toilet would completely cut out Elspeth’s. Mr. Mayne, on the seat in front, beside Barth, the coachman, was cloudlessly happy at his ill-advised success, and turned round to rally them on being so silent a party. His victim, Mary, felt very uncomfortable, and when they arrived at the ground gently scolded her step-father on the first opportunity. “My coming has spoilt everything and made them all cross,” whispered she, piteously. “Never mind, my dear. Not atall. It is all right.” In a few minutes Mr. Mayne, who had been going about, returned to Mary and said Mrs. Underwood wanted to see her. A sudden new light of anxiety flashed in Mrs. Mayne’s eyes at the name, but she had not time to make any objection: they were already away. Mrs. Underwood, of Croxham Grange, was the still handsome wife of the jolliest old officer who ever thought the crowning glory of a soldier’s life was the mess-table. He and she had both taken a fancy to little Miss Dixon, and the only one of their children who remained at home, Ernest, a young fellow close upon twenty-one, had dutifully followed suit. He had come to the ground in his dog-cart. When he caught sight of his favourite partner of a few nights ago sitting in the carriage with his mother, he jumped down before the groom could catch the reins, and rushed up to it. ‘Miss Dixon, I’m so glad to see you! I thought you did not care for polo and were not coming.” **[—Mr. Mayne would have me come.” “Why, young girls ought not to want much insistence to enjoy themselves,” said Colonel Underwood. ‘‘And you don’t look as if you did, Miss Dixon. We have all heard a great deal of your studious habits, but it is my belief you are a fraud, and only study when you can’t get anything better to do.” The colour rushed into her cheeks at this, and Mrs. Underwood told him not to tease her. All the officers of the regiment stationed at Cheston knew the Underwoods, who were very popular; and they came crowding round the carriage. When Godfrey made his way to it, he found Miss Dixon looking her best and brightest, chattering away with a gaiety she never showed at the Abbey, or, as it suddenly CONMIEIOOKS (E(©) m