The Argosy — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

68 Adonais, Q.C. himself once again in his Oxford rooms ; the sun streaming in through the open windows, and the summer breeze redolent of stock and mignonette ; then in that other season, a roaring fire in the grate, frost- c»vered panes, and the snow falling heavily and silently outside. Now in one scrape, just before the commemoration ; now in another, and again in another. And wherever these thoughts of Adonais fell, the same bold blue eyes, and dark face, always stood out in prominence. ‘Vaughan was daring,” he mused, ‘‘ and fascinating ; and the great thing about him was his invincible determination. He had a hard heart, though ; oh very! for I remember what he did to that poor little undergraduate.” And here Adonais seemed to fall into deep and rather sad thought. And a carriage rolled past his cab, and two heads. were stretched forward, and one voice said to another: ‘ There’s: Adonais, the Queen’s Counsel, going out to dinner.” But Adonais Cid not know it. For his thoughts were far away and his keen eyes had lost their keenness ; they were looking straight before him, out through the maze of raindrops to the ears of the jaded horse, bobbing: up and down in the thickening gloom. ‘‘Very hard! like the Featherstonhaugh females for that,” and he smiled to himself. ‘‘But I suppose he must be related to Feather- stonhaugh ; he spokeas if he were when he brought the letter of invi- tation. For the sake of old times I couldn’t have refused : but I don’t like them, all the same.” The hansom stopped at the door in Park Lane, and he went up the wet steps, and into the brilliant hall, and from thence to the door of the drawing-room. ‘The footman opened it and announced him. A rustle of satin, and Mrs. Featherstonhaugh’s pale face—a little paler than usual—was turned towards him, and a limp hand was held out. ‘‘ How do you do, Mr. Adonais?” she said feebly. “How do you do?” rang out the genial voice of Adonais. “Are you—ah—better ?” ‘““T am always weak,” and she moved slightly to make room for the outstretched hand of her husband; and then turning abruptly towards a figure on an adjoining couch: ‘Mr. Adonais, this is my sister Gabrielle.” An involuntary flash of surprise and admiration came into his eyes ; but he dropped them quickly, and bowed low to the beautiful gir) before him. “ How are you, Mr. Adonais? ‘Terrible weather, isn’t it?” And in this commonplace way, Gabrielle Ryan opened hostilities on the heart of Adonais. He looked down at her comically : “I think we’ve had about one fine day this season.” She raised her long, dark eyes. ‘‘ Yes, one,” she answered. ‘‘I know we've had one; the day I first saw you was a fine day. We were driving and I asked your name, and I thought it such a strange name—Adonais.” Eomichbooks.co