The Argosy — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

Hester. 143 “were illuminated here and there with sprays of flame-coloured bramble leaves, to the Rectory, hard by the old church tower—Hal’s, through the massive gates of a broad carriage drive to the stately mansion brimful of wealth and luxury to which he was sole heir. At that moment Hal felt he would have gladly exchanged all—broad acres, house, and all the chattels thereto appertaining—for a “‘ Yes” from the lips of the girl who stood facing him, holding out her hand. “This must be goodbye, as you leave to-morrow. We are friends still; are we not, Hal? And I hope some day you will find someone ever so much nicer than I am, who will be able to love you as you deserve ; and when you do, I’ll welcome her as a sister!” The promise was poor comfort to Hal, who could have dispensed with such passionless regard, and who felt at that moment—and perhaps would feel for the space of a whole week—as though his life’s happiness were wrecked for ever. He walked on pondering, with some old suspicions revived within him. Could it be after all that she had really cared about that fellow Guest ? and, if so, why had she let him go to Egypt when all Silvercombe knew she had only to lift her finger to have him at her feet ? Hester, for her part, had often lately asked herself the same question. Alas! she did not know then, what she had found out since, that her old playmate Talbot Guest was more to her than anyone else ever could or would be. It was the old story : ‘* How could I tell I should love thee to-day Whom that day I held not dear ? How could I know I should love thee away When I did not love thee anear ?” Not until she had sent him away did Hester begin to find out how insipid and colourless the routine of daily life was without him. But it was not too late. Had he not said he should try again, and meantime make himself more worthy of her? ‘The girl well remem- bered the stedfast look in his sunny eyes as he held her hand in a clasp which turned out to be one of farewell. Hester had left Silver- combe to visit some friends directly afterwards, and the next news she heard of her lover was a notification in the Western Zzmes that Captain Talbot Guest, 4th Battalion of the Devon Rifles, had been appointed to a command in the Egyptian Army, and was leaving England immediately. That was only last winter; but already, in her dreams, waking and sleeping, Hester was picturing her hero’s return from his harvest of glory, bringing his sheaves with him to lay at her feet. Hal’s pleadings this November afternoon had recalled that to her thoughts which was never far away. With a rapid step and a happy light in her fawn-brown eyes, she hurried homewards through the gathering dusk. T’ea—that intrusive afternoon meal ehh we have all made so welcome to our hearths of late—was already waiting when she COnnicloookks (©) am