The Argosy — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

106 THOUGHT-READING AT LADY CLANJAMFRY’S. I, ( PVRs LYNDHURST and Mabel Barrington had been en- gaged just twenty minutes by the Cupid-conducted clock on Mrs. Barrington’s drawing room mantelpiece, when unfortunately a subject cropped up about which they totally disagreed. How they came, at such a moment, to hit upon this unlucky topic seems incredible, but it was one that interested them both in a differ- ent fashion. ‘They might, with safety and unanimity, have discussed anything else in the world without the slightest risk of falling out, and have reserved the supernatural for conversation after marriage, but the fates willed otherwise. When Colonel Lyndhurst said, ‘‘ Oh, nonsense ! my dear girl,” in a voice which Mabel had seldom heard him use be- fore, it was no wonder that she tossed her head—which for the purpose she was obliged to remove from the Colonel’s shoulder. ‘But I assure you, Frederick,” she began ; and the Colonel inter- rupting her, a fierce argument ensued, neither of the lovers, or rather combatants, listening to a single word the other brought forward. “If we are to differ like this about one of the most sacred, the most important 4 ‘Pooh, pooh, Mabel! if you are going to get so excited about a wretched trifle ig ‘“‘T see we are both of the same mind on one point, at all events,” said Miss Barrington, haughtily, ‘‘that we made a grand mistake in thinking we should ever make each other happy. I hope you will for- get the unfortunate incident of this afternoon as quickly as I mean to do, and if any recollection remains it will be satisfaction that we dis- covered an incompatibility of temper in time. Good morning, Colonel Lyndhurst !” ‘But, my dear Mabel, are you positively going to sacrifice “ Good morning, Colonel Lyndhurst.” Miss Barrington had ma- jestically rung the bell, and said, ‘‘ Front door, James,” to the footman as coolly as if she had been dismissing a charity-collector. There was nothing for it but to leave her—which the poor Colonel did in an altogether humiliated fashion. He had not even his hat to shelter himself with, for having come with a purpose, he had intentionally and significantly deposited it in the hall, on hearing that Mrs. Barrington had gone down to Harrow Speeches, but Miss Barrington was at home and would receive him. After vainly casting his eyes round the drawing-room and dashing wildly into one or two likely corners, he remembered this trifling but suggestive circumstance, and followed James down stairs as described. Bang! went the hall-door. James might have been suffering )) CONMICMOOOLKS (E)