The Argosy — page 267: what you’re looking at

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

248 The Mystery of Allan Grale. Rose gave a little wistful incredulous shake of the head. She hadi a great secret to keep now, and she was not quite certain that Mrs. Wilson’s assurances would suit its requirements. “T’m as glad as I can be that this wedding is coming off,” con- fided Mrs. Wilson to Miss North, as next morning they assisted each other to dress for the occasion. ‘‘And the uncle must come round’ by-and-by, for I’m sure if this young man is only a poor artist, he’s. a perfect gentleman, and a great deal better man than she had any right to expect, pretty light little butterfly as she is.” ‘She looks like a butterfly in the rain, this morning,” said Miss North. | “T don’t know,” said Mrs. Wilson, “there’s a sort of dignity about her, all on a sudden. I can’t make it out; there’s half of it like: humility and half of it like pride.” ‘As if she feels unworthy of him and yet is made worthy by his. choice,” explained Miss North, who was romantic. And then the two had betaken themselves to admire their new dresses, for simple as all the arrangements were, Mr. Forester had. not forgotten the liberality becoming in a bridegroom, and Mrs. Wilson’s dark-grey cashmere, trimmed with satin, and Miss North’s corresponding robe of olive-green, were, as each said, exactly what: each would have chosen for herself. Miss North secretly pitied Rose for being married in a travelling dress, handsome enough of its kind, but very different from the fluffy white garments which figure in girlish visions of a bride. When Mr. Forester had first expressed his wishes in this respect, Rose had felt inclined to be a little rebellious ; but before the wedding-day, the matter had ceased to be very important in her eyes, and she scarcely cared whether or no he would yield to Miss North’s earnest petition that he would at least permit a bridal wreath to adorn the dainty straw bonnet, which she would faithfully promise to remove at once— even in the vestry, immediately after the ceremony if he so desired. The wedding took place in a quiet old church by the waterside—a church with quaint monuments in every corner, and strange relics on every hand. When it was over, they came back to Great Grey Street, only to take up the trunk stored with Rose’s little trousseau- Mrs. Wilson had set forth sundry refreshments, which Rose made a feint of accepting ; but the bridegroom touched nothing. Their cab was directed to drive to the King’s Cross Railway Station. It was before this parting moment—as_ the observant maid-of-all-work discerned—that the chill had fallen on the kindly landlady. In fact, she brought it home with her from the church. But when Rose had turned to her on the threshold, and clasped her hands, and gazed up into her face with tearful eyes, she thawed for a moment, and returned the clinging grasp with warm heartiness, as she spoke. ‘And you'll let me know when you’re safely arrived, my dear, and CONNIE OOO KS (E()