The Argosy — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

150 Dr. Ball. Thus addressed, all the Curate’s wits at once deserted him. Ina mean, paltry fashion, they fled, leaving him utterly stranded. He had meant to be more than ordinarily eloquent about Dulcinea’s love affair ; but now brought face to face with the foe, he found himself barren of words. Yet speak he must; and so, boldly, curtly, tersely, he stated his mission, and expressed his hope of obtaining for Dulcinea permis- sion to marry the man of her heart, To say the Bishop was astounded would be to say little. He was so amazed that he leant back in his chair, and for some minutes was incapable of an answer. ‘Then he began a diatribe about fortune- hunters, and his duty as a guardian, and Dulcinea’s wealth, and her general impracticability. When he had got so far he paused, and looked at the Curate, as if for a further lead. But Dr. Ball was sorely in want of a lead himself. He was in fact frightened out of his life. It seemed such presumption to sit there, and argue with his Bishop ! What was he to say? Silence was impossible with the Bishop sitting there staring at him in expectant impatience; speech seemed equally so! At last his lips unclosed, and some words unbidden rose to them. ‘She is such a very good girl,” he murmured, in a dull, heavy tone, hardly knowing wat hesaid. Could anything be tamer, more mean- ingless? He felt his cause was lost. ‘Yes, yes, no doubt,” said his lordship testily, somewhat put out, he hardly knew why, by the Curate’s simple remark. “I have hardly had a good opportunity of sifting her character so far, as she has obsti- nately refused of late every invitation sent her by Mrs. Craik. But I am glad to hear you speak of her so favourably.” Again he paused, and looked expectantly at the Doctor, who felt the blood mount surging to his brow. Oh! for the tongue of a Demos- thenes to sing his dear girl’s praises! It was denied him! His very brain seemed dry as his parched lips. Yet speak he must. ‘‘T never met so good a girl,” he stammered again in the same heavy, impressive tone, his shamed eyes on the ground. Good gracious, was he never to get beyond this lukewarm formula? ‘No doubt, no doubt,” said the Bishop, with growing discomposure. ‘‘ The fact that she zs so admirable a girl as you describe her proves to me that there is all the more reason why I should feel myself bound, as her guardian, to look after her interests, and shield her from all harm ; from fortune-huniers especially. And this Mr.—ah— Wygram seems to me nothing better than one of that class,” Then he looked once more questioningly at Dr, Ball, as though defying him to take up the cudgels Aeve. It was a piercing look this time, and utterly wrecked the small remaining wits the poor little Curate still possessed. He sank deeper into his chair, and thought longingly of the fate of Korah. : ‘He is such a good young man,” he said at last, not feebly as one might imagine, but with more than ordinary loudness, born of his distraction, Alas! alas! why did Dulcinea choose a broken reed GEomichbooks.co mn