The Argosy — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

. Godmother Dorothy. 37 wise man would keep clear. I think you are right; at least I have been trying all day to convince myself that you are wrong, and have succeeded in discovering—what? That if she is an impostor, in- stead of unmasking her, I, for my part, am ready to turn round and make common cause with her against you and the rest of the world—if she’ll have me for an accomplice. The murder’s out, and I can but throw myself on your mercy. It is somewhat of a relief to have my own folly set clear and plain before my eyes, and to have fathomed its depths. Dorothy—kindest and wisest of fairy godmothers! you have helped me before this out of many a diff- culty—out of many more than you ever suspected ; but here even you are powerless. You are indignant with me, and ashamed of my folly? So ought I to be, and the worst symptom is I am no such thing. Here I am at five-and-forty, a steady-going old veteran, hopelessly in love with a woman, not young nor beautiful (as beauties go—I have my own opinion on the subject), of whom I know absolutely nothing, except that she has a brilliant touch on the pianoforte, a delicious contralto voice, and a laugh like some- body I met, years ago, down in Yorkshire. ‘No, I am not ashamed, and I decline to be pitied. “«*What is to come of it?’ you ask. I have not an idea. Of one thing only I am certain—believe it or not—Mrs. Pierpoint is in total ignorance of my folly, and shall remain so. She thinks, indeed, that I am unjustifiably curious about her past life, and there it ends. Perhaps the advent of Colonel Wriothesley may frighten her away— I devoutly hope it may. -If not, I shall keep discreetly apart from ’ Tamarisk Lodge till their stay here comes to an end. Not from one remaining spark of prudence or common sense; but simply because Mrs. Pierpoint cares not one whit for me, and I don’t want to provoke her into telling me so, as I should most assuredly do if I gave myself the chance.” I added a few more lines that I am afraid hardly bettered my case, and finding that there was time to catch the night’s post, sent my ser- vant off with it, feeling that now for certain I had burned my ships behind me. ~~ May and her aunt welcomed me as usual, when I paid my promised visit next day. My Amati had already established a special corner for itself beside the ’cello, and I wondered what excuse I could make for carrying it away with me. We began upon music directly. May indulged me with Haydn and all my other favourites, and then we tried one thing after another in a steady, business-like manner, quite different to our former idle dallying. May seemed to notice it. “This is severe,” she presently remarked, laughing ; “ sing something, Auntie.” But Mrs. Pierpoint shook her head and walked away to the window, where she sat gazing meditatively out at the distant sea, while May accompanied me in “To Anthea.” I’m afraid my performance was not as correct as it might have been Gomichboo s) (E@) m