The Argosy — page 275: what you’re looking at

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

256 The Mystery of Allan Grale. in a communicative humour. He told Maria that he was quite expected at Ragan, that everybody there was ready to receive him ; and he went on to speak of sundry changes which had taken place upon the farm. “Only fancy, Maria,” he said: ‘‘the daughter of the house, Morna McOrist, is actually married. ‘That last news was a surprise to me. She was one of those girls whom one does not altogether expect will marry. ‘But was she not pretty,” returned Maria, who felt sure she had heard so. “Ah, was she not!” said George, with enthusiasm. ‘‘ She was beautiful. But, to me, she seemed more like a spirit than a girl. I have found it hard to think of her in any of the ordinary ways of life ; and yet, after all, this marriage of hers seems to have been quite a commonplace affair.” ‘Ts she well-educated and lady-like ?” enquired Maria. ‘‘Are spirits—angels—well-educated and lady-like?” retorted George, with something very like scorn. ‘‘ The question sounds hardly queerer in that connection than in connection with Morna McOrist. You are terribly limited, Maria. You have lived so much among china teacups, and set flower-beds, that you must have your doubts of mountain springs, and moorland gorse and heather.” Maria would not allow herself to think that he spoke unkindly. But she did think of the pain it would be if words like these should recur to her memory, when George was no longer there to speak other- wise. He went on. ‘‘It is hard to realise that Morna McOrist is changed into Mrs. Smith ‘i “Ts she?” interrupted Maria. ‘* Mrs. Smith!” “Mrs. Smith ; just that. So they tell me. It seems the old father and mother were not altogether satisfied with the marriage. But I doubt if any marriage would have satisfied them for Morna. How- ever, she had her own way, as I suspect she generally could have with them. I wonder how the cousin, Colin Vass, likes it ! ” “Do you think he would particularly dislike it?” asked Maria, ina meaning tone. George laughed. ‘‘ Well, I have an idea of the sort, though I believe that personally he regarded Morna as he might a tutelary angel, or an exalted fairy. For the rest of it, the young man has lived awhile outside his native glen; he has been to College, and has enlightened, modern ideas, and so is far less likely than the old people to be prejudiced against a stranger, because he is a stranger. I need scarcely say, Maria, that this Mr. Smith is one, since I daresay you perceive it is not an old Highland name!” Maria smiled dimly, thankful for any sparkle of George’s former playfulness. ‘‘ Did he go there a stranger ?” she asked. ‘“‘T infer so,” replied George. ‘And I fancy he must have been up CONNICLMOOOKS.(€O