The Argosy — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

128 Christobel. “Not znexplicable, I think,” softly interposed Geraldine, who was present, gliding forward and taking her guest’s hand. ‘The colour rushed to Christobel’s face. She was touched as any sign of sympathy from Geraldine alone had power to touch her. ‘Your sister was old and lonely,” she said, turning to Mr. Hillyer. ‘“‘Was it so strange that at the end of her life, feeling weaker and more dependent, probably, than we ever guessed, she should have felt some need of love and companionship? You mistrust me, I know,” added the girl, her voice vibrating with an unexplained emotion, ‘‘and I confess that I have not the power entirely to justify myself in your eyes. But, believe me, the strongest, deepest tie between myself and your sister was the solace, tardy and imperfect indeed, that my com- prehension of her sorrows brought her.” She drew a little closer to Mr. Hillyer, and, looking up at him with her lovely, appealing eyes, clasped her hands together with the gesture of one who would supplicate, if she dared. The little movement, slight though it was, had something strangely pathetic in it, for it was eloquent of all the feeling that Christobel, for some reason, kept so resolutely veiled. Geraldine wondered how her father could resist it, but Mr. Hillyer felt nothing but a vexed disdain. ‘‘ Solace? Sorrow?” he repeated contemptuously. ‘You must excuse me, Miss Fane, but the question between us does not admit of sentiment. My sister chose to separate herself from her kindred,. and to spoil her whole life, out of morbid regret for a worthless individual. I constantly made efforts to be reconciled to her - He stopped abruptly. For all his callous egotism, Mr. Hillyer quailed beneath the sudden scorn of Christobel’s glance. But rage was the feeling that predominated in him, and he resumed : ‘‘T have asked some questions which you do not choose to answer. 1 do not know who you are. I do not wzshk to know—and I can see mo reason for prolonging our interview.” ‘Nor I for burdening you further with my presence in any way,” said Christobel. ‘I shall be gone in an hour.” “Oh no, no! Do not leave us in this manner. I entreat you to remain a little longer,” exclaimed Geraldine. ‘Tt is impossible,” replied Christobel, firmly. ‘“ Miss Fane knows her own business best, Geraldine,” said Mr. Hillyer, who was angrily pacing the room. But his daughter, for once, did not mind his displeasure, and again addressing Christobel, she said earnestly, “‘ What will you do in London, all alone? Forgive me for asking: Have you any friends 2” ‘‘T have friends, though not many. You are very good, but you must not vex yourself about me. No harm will come to me from being alone.” And Christobel quitted the room. She was as good as her word, and took leave of them in an hour. ‘They were all assembled when she came to say farewell, and parted from her in a manner as various as their characters and their moods. CORMICOIOO KS. (EC) m