The Argosy — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

Christobel. 61 his admiration, if such it were, for Christobel only betrayed itself by a watchful observance of her that amused her whenever she noticed it, and intensely irritated her host. He grew to detest his sister’s beautiful protégée ; to think badly of her, to wish her more fervently than ever out of the house. Among all these conflicting sentiments, secret or avowed, the one person about whom there reigned a perfect unanimity of liking was Mr. Vandyken. He continued to capture all hearts and to keep them when captured. In his frequent visits to the Hall he treated every- body in the most charming manner—not excepting even Mr. Sherlock. In fact he professed for the latter a frank admiration which most people attributed to Mr. Vandyken’s natural amiability, and to which the object of it was slow to respond. But quite unruffled by this coldness, Mr. Vandyken never lost an opportunity of claiming the old gentleman’s “Transatlantic sympathy” for his views and schemes, which were many, and he would often laughingly prophesy that Mr. Sherlock would be his partner in his next large financial under- taking. One day Mrs. Chisholm, putting her head into the library a little before the hour for afternoon tea, found Geraldine sitting alone in the firelight. “My love!” she exclaimed, tripping forward blithely, “ you don’t so out enough; you really don’t. Now I have just returned from a most delightful ramble on the moors. I have even been as far as that rise from which one looks down upon the quarry.” ‘“ Alone?” asked Geraldine, with a slight smile. It was difficult to believe that the widow could find a solitary ramble so pleasant. “Quite alone—the gentlemen are out——hum——is everybody out?” ‘Everybody, even Miss Fane. My aunt is much better—you have heard that both yesterday and to-day she walked about the room with the help of a stick? ‘That being so, I persuaded her to send the poor girl out for a little fresh air.” ‘“ Hum—the poor girl—you persuaded—-—My dear Geraldine, I always think you are so sweet—so kind-hearted—so uzsuspicious.” ‘ Unsuspicious ?” echoed Geraldine. But Mrs. Chisholm had taken up a magazine, and was carelessly turning over its pages. ‘‘ Has anybody called?” she carelessly enquired. “Only Mr. Vandyken,” replied her young hostess, not without a spice of malice. | “Mr. Vandyken! How did he come? Did he stay long?” Mrs. Chisholm asked the questions in a tone of sharp curiosity, very differ- ent from her habitual pretty languor. ‘No indeed—only five minutes. He just came with his usual kindness to enquire after my aunt, and he even asked at first only for Miss Fane, so as not to disturb me, he said.” A look of contempt, almost of aversion, contracted the pupils of CoOnmiclooolkKks (S(O) am —))