The Argosy — page 321: what you’re looking at

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

302 Catherine versus Kate. People of forty can no longer pretend to youth. Iam growing old. Is it not so?” . ‘No, sir. I believe, if you could be induced to go into the cricket- field and take a bat—nay, if you could be persuaded to enter a ball-room and take a partner—that you would do as well as the youngest, and fee/ as young as you look.” ‘Catherine, beware!” cried he. ‘‘ You don’t know how you are tempting a man who has renounced society and given up all idea of enjoyment! Do you know that I was once the Captain of the Southernshire Muffs? And do you know that I was once con- sidered the best dancer in Southernshire ? ” ‘*T am not surprised to hear it, sir.” “That is strange—since you have never known me as anything ‘but a hypochondriacal book-worm.” ‘You take in the /ze/d, sir, and I have often seen you absorbed in the cricketing news. And as to dancing, sir,no one can see you walk without knowing that you can dance !” ‘The master smiled. ‘Yes, Catherine, I have been a great cricketer and a great dancer. I was jovial among men and polished among ladies. I was social and I loved society. J am not vain, but I should hke you to know that many people expressed regret when I retired from the world.” ‘IT don’t wonder, sir.” “You are very kind, Catherine. Yes, they regretted my departure. Only ove said nothing. Her unkindness wounded me and I fled.” ‘‘T am sorry for that,” said the housekeeper. ‘You are a faithful friend, Catherine, and IJ feel it due to you that I should tell you something of my past life. How many years is it since we have lived together in this solitary place ?” “Tt is only three months, sir.” “Only three months! Well, it must then be four months since I became the owner of this property—since I left the world and became a hypochondriacal book-worm. Before that, I was active and in good health. But I was poor; and not all my prowess in cricket and dancing could win me my heart’s desire. I loved, Catherine.” ‘indeed, sir!” “Yes, I loved. I loved my beautiful cousin Kate. But her father was rich and I dared not say to her, ‘Come, share the poor barrister’s crust.’ So I loved her, but did not speak.” ‘You loved her, sir? I wonder how men love ?” “T loved her from the bottom of my heart. I liked to be always with her. I couldn’t bear to see her talking to other men. I loved to give her presents. Catherine, I denied myself the necessaries of life to give her flowers and pretty things. She smiled sweetly and ‘took them, and then she turned round and flirted with another man— -a wretch called Lord Angelo.” ‘““She turned and flirted at once, sir, do you mean ?” Eomichbooks.co m