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

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

64 The Oleander. blooms again, then you will look for the corresponding flower of love in Lady Diana’s heart! I give you my consent beforehand to that proposition, for it never will blossom again. Another time, sir, fit your parable more aptly.” He laughed superciliously, and with easy indifference prevented further speech by leaving the room, dismissing de Lisle with a courteous but sarcastic farewell. Winter came, and Heron’s Court was deserted ; if Lord Welford had accomplished no other end he had at least broken up all intercourse between Mr. de Lisle and Diana. De Lisle had never come again to Park Lane, and though we heard his name mentioned in society, we never met him. Rumour recounted all manner of things concerning him, but one thing at least was certain: he had fallen, purposely or otherwise, from grace in the shape of society, and the great world let him go as easily and as carelessly, and forgot him as quickly and completely, as it had once petted and spoiled him. And with his disappearance there also disappeared the incompleted portrait of Lady Diana, and one of the oleander trees. Millicent declared to me in private that she had overheard Welford and Antonio’s last words on that morning in October, and that Welford had laughed sneeringly as he said: “ Bring me the tree in bloom, then mayhap you will find the corresponding blossom in the Lady Diana’s heart ;” and Tito had replied, very gravely: “‘I have a great faith. I shall return, and the Lady Diana will then listen to me.” When I questioned Camilla Camoys on this sudden exit of her favourite knight, she shrugged her round white shoulders, and said with her little lisp: ‘‘ My dear Theresa! what a horrible barbarian you are! As if one cou/d remember who was their favourite of last season. Mr. de Lisle? Oh, yes, he is dead, or dying, or gone to the North Pole, or run off with some one—anything you like, Theresa. Certainly he was very handsome, but then a foreigner, you know—so exacting— and so utterly without discretion, and positively, my dear, Honest.” And with a nod and a laugh Camilla accepted ‘* Baby ” Gresham’s arm and walked off with him, smiling just as I had seen her smile up- on Tito scores of times. Early in December we went to Rome, I for once being included in the party, while Millicent was left at home. The morning of our departure a small box was left at the door for Diana, and I took it to her room, where, surrounded by boxes and portmanteaus, she sat looking a little absent and sad. As I handed her the parcel, I noticed in the cold, searching sunlight, that her face was thinner and her cheeks paler than a few months ago. She untied the string listlessly, and raised the lid. On a bed of white wool lay a single pink oleander flower, and on a card attached were the words: Beware and trust. I looked at Diana. Her face had grown strangely tender, her eyes were suffused, her lips trembled. Then suddenly she shut the box Eomicbooks.co m