The Argosy — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

{donais, Q.C. 71 school-girl ; that he knew: but she was an American; and American women—let them be charming as they may, American women do, and ever will do, odd things sometimes. If that were all, he could afford to be genial over it ; but if she had deliberate designs of attracting him to her, why he objected to any such bold hostilities. At any rate it was rather amusing; and with a half smile he turned his eyes drolly upon her. A strange look came into them as he noted the downcast lip, and the colour coming and going on her round cheek. For never had Gabrielle looked or felt more crestfallen. She had failed ignominiously, and she knew it. He bent kindly towards her. ‘And so there was a dispute about my heart ?” She hesitated. This man seemed to read her through and through. eS... * And may I ask how it was decided ?” “Mr. Adonais, it was zot decided.” ‘“ Ah! and was the matter really allowed to rest on such frightful uncertainty? What folly!” She laughed feebly. ‘‘ The decision was deferred, Mr. Adonais.” He shot a keen look at her again. ‘‘And meantime the mystery would have to be solved ?” “Oh yes, of course,” she stammered, playing with her bracelet uncomfortably. He laughed, now really amused. ‘And who was to solve it, I wonder?” he asked, turning his faceto her. ‘* Perhaps you?” This time it was Gabrielle who flushed to the eyes; all self-possession utterly forsook her. What should she do? Where should she look? © How should she answer? Her thoughts were whirling in mad confu- sion. ‘To be convicted—she, proud Gabrielle—to be convicted, in indirect language, it is true, but still convicted of having designs upon a heart! And, that, by the man whose heart she had undertaken to capture ! And this in the presence of a London dinner-party ! Roland Vaughan had prophesied humiliation ; surely this was something worse. She turned suddenly towards him, the most abject entreaty written on every feature of her face. ““Mr. Adonais!” she said; ‘“‘ Mr. Adonais—please let us talk of something else.” He bowed politely. ‘‘ Certainly. I think we began this evening with the weather: can you suggest another subject? or may I? Do you know, I have to make a speech at a provincial flower-show to- morrow, this said weather permitting ; and I had just made up my mind to ask if you would tell me the names of a few of these flowers on the table—that I may not appear so totally ignorant as I am— when you startled me. Perhaps you will help me now?” Gabrielle turned her face once again to him. ‘‘ Oh, yes!” and her ’ voice struggled for calmness. ‘‘ That beside you is a pelargonium.” “And opposite ?” ‘““ Hydrangea.” EONMNIEOOO KS EO EE LL