The Argosy — page 375: what you’re looking at

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

354 Aunt Paradox. “No; but you should hear her music. She plays and sings—oh, like a professional.” ‘““Armine’s grand at everything,” put in Richard, who sat flinging stones into the little brook; ‘‘ Mary is only a goose beside her. Never mind, child; you are clever enough for me.” The sketch was not finished that day, nor the next, nor the next. They all three aided at its progress each day; Mr. Ryde drawing, the other two looking on. ‘The work was much hindered by intervals of conversation, and by strollings hither and thither. Richard, who was not at all a goose himself—on the contrary, rather deep, so far as reading Aunt Paradox went—charged Mary that she was not to say anything about the sketching intervals. One evening, when Richard had stayed at home to write letters, he reached Barnham Villa only at the gloaming. Mary was in the par- lour alone, her head bent down on the arm of the sofa, her face rather disconsolate. “Where are they all?” asked Richard. “Aunt Paradox is up 1n her room ; she won’t be long, I think.” “But Ryde? Where’s he?” “He and Arminia went for a walk together after tea.” ‘¢ And why did you not go also ?” “Aunt Paradox would not let me,” sighed Mary. “She said I had too much walking with you in the day-time. Armine said so too.” “Well, come with me now, Mary. We'll go and meet them.” Mary drew back. “I cannot,” she whispered; ‘‘ Aunt Paradox would be angry with me. She ordered me never, never to join Mr. Ryde and Armine; when they are together I am not to go within yards of them.” — Richard Damer laughed softly for a full minute. He had suspected the policy of Aunt Paradox before ; now he knew it openly. Well, if he was anything of a conjurer, she would find herself mistaken. ‘‘ What are you laughing at, Richard?” ‘At Aunt Paradox, Mary. Never mind the why and the where- fore.” Two or three weeks went on, and the merry month of May was drawing to a close. It had kept up its character for lovely weather throughout, as if the seasons were returning to what they were in the days gone by. Aunt Paradox was somewhat surprised that the young men should stay so long, but put it down to the attractions of Arminia. Mr. Ryde said he was taking a series of sketches, and stayed to complete them : which Aunt Paradox regarded as only a figure of speech. She treated them to sumptuous teas— they all dined early—and after tea there would be charmingly romantic saunterings by moonlight. ‘ But he never speaks ; he shows no special indication of coming forward as he ought,” grumbled Aunt Paradox to herself. ‘ Armine CORNICE KS 4(EO)