The Argosy — page 373: what you’re looking at

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

352 Aunt Paradox. him when I am old enough; Armine says so; and oh, Richard, I can’t bear him.” Richard Damer took his arm from beneath his sister’s golden curls that were bending down upon it, stood up, and put his back against a tree, a terrible look of anger upon his face. It was a minute or two before he spoke. ‘Ts Clement Paradox here often ?” he then asked, quietly. ‘Oh, no, scarcely ever. He cannot get leave—and his regiment is over in Ireland now.” ‘And you can’t bear him, Mary?” “T can’t, I can’t,” she answered, with a sort of sob. ‘‘ But you must not tell that to Aunt Paradox—or to Arminia, either.” “My dear, you may put your little heart at rest in all ways,” said Richard. ‘‘ Nobody can marry you without my consent for many a year to come—not until you are five-and-twenty years of age in fact ; and I shall never give that consent to Clement Paradox.” ‘Hush, please, Richard! ‘They are coming back.” ‘’Qne more word, my dear. How is it you have never mentioned any of these things to me in your letters ?—about not going to school—about Clement 7 “Oh, please hush, Dick! I can’t; I’ve not been able to do so; Aunt Paradox always sits by me when I write my letters.” ‘How idle you are this evening, Damer!” exclaimed Mr. Ryde. ‘We have been all about everywhere.” ‘Hope you have enjoyed it,” returned Richard. ‘ Idleness is one of my besetting sins.” They were summoned by Mrs. Paradox, and went in. A sump- tuous tea was spread upon the table. Hot buttered rolls, cake, and honey, potted meat, and preserved strawberries and cream, and tea and coffee. And Aunt Paradox was sweeter than the honey, and Armine witty and beautiful, and Mary shy and silent. it. THE days that ensued were pleasant, the weather was warm and light. Richard took an opportunity of treating Aunt Paradox to his opinion upon one or two subjects, but he might as well have let it alone. The past was past and its events could not be altered. She: was all suavity, assuring her ‘‘ dear nephew” that she and Polly were delightfully happy together; as to Mary’s shelling peas, or anything of that kind again, why of course not. She, Aunt Paradox, was at her ease now as to money matters, her new legacy of five hundred a-year placed her so, and she should live accordingly, and keep an additional maid, who was already engaged. As to Mary, she had made arrange- ments for her to return at once to the college with Armine to pursue her music and drawing studies. But that last item Richard negatived. Not while he was at Barn- GOMIIGDOOkKSs (GO)