The Argosy — page 371: what you’re looking at

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

350 Aunt Paradox. Mrs. Paradox. The sun was setting behind a distant hill, and the earth seemed bathed in golden light. The two young girls stood at the gate, looking out over the narrow strip of common, perhaps looking out for them. Mary wore a black silk frock now ; her pretty neck and arms were bare, and she looked like the child Richard had called her. Arminia was different. Arminia Paradox had never looked like a child when she was one. She took after her late father, the Major, who was tall, dark and upright. She had beautiful black eyes and purple black hair, and cheeks bright as a crimson rose. A very handsome girl indeed, of distinguished presence. Her light silk dress gleamed with richness. ‘“ Mamma thought you would be coming,” said she, with a brilliant smile, as she put her hand into Richard’s. “Why, how you have grown, Arminia!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ May I take a cousin’s kiss ?” bending his head. ‘No, of course not, sir—for shame!” she answered, laughing and drawing back. “ Richard, you are just the same tease that you used to be.” ‘Ta tease? never. You should see what Ryde is. I’m a sober judge of middle age compared with him.” Talking and laughing, they strolled about the lawn, and then round to the kitchen garden to see the lovely blossoms of the fruit trees. Arminia, walking by Mr. Ryde’s side, invited him to go and look at the lilies of the valley, which were under the garden wall. Richard drew his sister aside. ‘They were passing a bench and he bade her sit down on it, and took his seat beside her. ‘‘ Mary, I want to ask you a thing or two,” he said. ‘‘ I am your guardian, you know, though the mother did leave you to Aunt Paradox, so far as residence goes. How is it that you do not go to this college as well as Arminia?” Mary hesitated. She was very sweet-natured, and did not like to tell tales. ‘You must answer me,” said her brother, with authority. ‘ Aunt Paradox thinks I know enough, Richard. I have not gone there for twelve months.” ‘Oh! You stop at home and do housework instead.” “JT only help, Richard. When only one servant is kept in a house, she cannot do everything.” ‘“Why does not Arminia do it, instead of you ?” ‘¢ Aunt Paradox wants Arminia to be very accomplished, as she is so beautiful.” ‘She may be accomplished, and welcome. But I fail to see, child, why you should not be accomplished also.” “JT don’t think I have any talent for fine accomplishments, as Arminia has. Mamma never cared about my music, you know: so long as I played softly and sang the old songs to her, she was CORMICLMOOKS (EC) m