The Argosy — page 147: what you’re looking at

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

130 On and Off. ‘* Ah, my dear,” he answered, “ you don’t know.” “No,” said Ada, “I don’t; that’strue.” And somehow she found the tears so near her eyes again, that she had to turn away to hide them. Poor Mr. Plympton was inexpressibly distressed. “My dear, my dear,” he entreated, “‘don’t cry. It was so thoughtless of me; I don’t know how I could have said such a thing, to remind you of your troubles. Just like me—always incon- siderate.” “Hem,” meditated Freddy. ‘Never thought that jolly little woman could cry. I suppose these tears are a tribute to the memory of the late lamented Chesney. It’s the first hint I’ve heard of his existence, “Never mind,” said Ada, turning round brightly, “it was not your fault. It was my own thoughts that upset me; not anything that you said. I don’t know what made me so horribly sentimental ; forget it, please. They are lowering a boat from the Wild Swan now ; perhaps you will see your friend, Mr. Whipple.” (I ought before this to have introduced Freddy in form as Frederick Plympton Whipple, Esq., lieutenant in the th Artillery. ) ‘In a hurry for his letters, no doubt. Yes, by Jove, there he is; and I bet that other chap with him in the boat is the doctor. I'll run round to the steps and shake hands with him. By-bye, Uncle. Good-bye, Mrs. Chesney.” Ada scarcely noticed his farewell. There was something strangely familiar about the figure of one of the two men who sat in the stern of the approaching boat, which made her heart beat fast. She could not see the face at first, but she never had a doubt of what she should see. Sheltering her own with her parasol, she leant for- ward on the wall, and peeped from under. She had not been mis- taken; it was her husband; and to her own extreme surprise, she felt an intense joy. There he was, once more before her, after so many months ; and she who had sent him away from her was utterly delighted to see him again. But she had no mind that he should see her, and keeping her glowing face well behind the hood of Mr. Plympton’s chair, she proposed to go home, Mr. Plympton’s penitence for his unfortunate remark was such that he was prepared to accede to any wish of hers ; so they went straight towards their lodgings, avoiding the steps, on which Wilfrid Chesney was just setting his foot. (Zo be concluded.) GEomicbooks.co