The Argosy — page 202: what you’re looking at

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

The White Witch. 187 On meeting Miss Dixon in the drawing-room ten minutes after his arrival, it was not surprising that he instantly found it necessary to walk off to the Vicarage. Since his aunt’s words, he had thought more seriously of his engagement than he had ever done before, and had come to the conclusion that it was not fair either to Elspeth or himself to treat her like a doll ; to talk nonsense to her when he was in a good humour and avoid her like the plague when he was not. Being nineteen, she was really no longer a child; and if she was to be a good, sensible, supportable wife to him, he must get herto share his tastes now, and teach her to sympathise with his feelings. Here was an excellent opportunity for a beginning. He had been away three weeks ; she would doubtless see at once that he looked ill and worried, and he, instead of putting off her affectionate inquiries, would impart to her that he was so, and let her play at consoling him. Elspeth met him in the Vicarage garden. ‘“Oh, Godfrey, I’m so glad you are come!” she cried. ‘“ Now you can go with us to the bazaar at Cheston to-morrow. What a queer colour you are—all tanned! What have you been doing to yourself?” He kissed her affectionately, but felt rather hurt. She was glad to see him indeed, and skipped about him in very sportive, lamb-like fashion; but these were not the ideal transports he was in the humour to have welcomed. Godfrey felt repressed. “JT have not been doing anything; I’m all right,” he answered. “One does get tanned, I believe, when one is much in the open air.” : “Well, you seem rather grumpy,” said she, gaily. And he was hurt again. Then he remembered that this was the mood he had always encouraged in her, and that this very gaiety, which jarred upon him a little at the moment, was the result of her pleasure at seeing him again. ‘This was the time for his first lesson in a woman’s duties as consoler and sympathiser. “I’ve been a good deal bothered lately,” said he. *‘ Have you, Godfrey? Is that why you went away?” “No; but it is why I’ve come back.” This was not a lover’s speech, and Elspeth was hurt in her turn. Oh, not to see me, then! Matilda said you didn’t seem to trouble yourself to write very often.” ' “ Matilda said so, did she?” said Godfrey, irritated. ‘Iam not engaged to Matilda, and I don’t see why she should concern herself with me or my letters. If I write often enough to please you, that is enough.” “But you don’t. You hardly ever write at all ; and when you do, you don’t say much; nothing about the places you are at and what you see. They ask me at breakfast, when I get a letter from you, what you say, and there is never anything to tell them. And then they EONNIE OO KS (E() m