The Argosy — page 255: what you’re looking at

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

240 Valentine’s Day. one, and was very glad to meet with some one likely to relieve the monotony of a month in the country with no one to speak to but an elderly maiden aunt. Now all this may account for her behaviour down to this point : whether it will continue to do so, is for the reader to judge. “Aunt,” began Miss Grey at lunch, ‘‘who is the rector of the parish P” ‘“Mr. Vyner, my dear,” replied Miss Foster. ‘The Reverend Paul Vyner. He is a Cambridge man, and, I am told, of very good family. However, he is poor, and takes pupils. He conducts the service very badly, and is utterly useless in the parish.” “Oh! Has he any pupils just now?” enquired Miss Grey, innocently. ‘“ No, my dear,” replied her aunt; ‘‘and I don’t see what difference it would make to you if he had.” | For Miss Foster, though a kind-hearted and good woman, was a zreat stickler for propriety. Her other main characteristic was that of saying disagreeable things she didn’t mean, and was sorry for afterwards. This quality she was especially proud of, aired it on all occasions, and called it speaking her mind. Miss Kate, having learned all she wanted to know, now glided gently but swiftly away from the dangerous topic of young men, and being a bright, clever girl, succeeded in producing a favourable im- pression on her aunt. During the afternoon she retired to unpack. In the course of this occupation she came upon a large envelopa which she took out of her trunk and balanced thoughtfully in her hand ; then shook out the contents on to the dressing-table and be- gan sorting them through. They were half a dozen cards, bearing the devices common to the feast of St. Valentine, which she had brought with her to despatch from Glendale to various acquaintances. Having selected one which seemed to suit her purpose, she wrote two lines on it in pencil, and, placing it in an envelope, directed it to “A. rT. “Care of the Rev. P. Vyner. “The Vicarage, ** Glendale.” For though Trevor knew her name, it being written in full on her luggage, she only knew his initials, which she could see painted on his hat-box. However, having ascertained from him that he was going to live at the Vicarage, and from her aunt that the Vicars name was Paul Vyner, and that he had no other pupils just now, she felt sure that her letter, though vaguely addressed, must find the right person. Eomichooks.¢co m