The Argosy — page 326: what you’re looking at

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

An Oxford Idyll. 307 into Ned’s ear—her despair when they had driven away and left her —her sorrow at having teased him—her terror lest he should have misconstrued her absence—the beneficent comforter in the person of Uncle Poweil. “Never mind, my Faerie Queene,” Ned had said, comforting her. “‘T should soon have learned the truth, for I had just made up my mind to ask for leave, and run up to Porchester Terrace. I know it would not have been right in your father’s absence, but I could not have rested without hearing from your own lips why you had not come. You would not have been long unhappy, but now it is much better as it is. But here comes your uncle, and I must thank him for bringing you, and then we must go in search of Owen.” There was a weary and somewhat silent little party in Owen’s rooms. Mr. Templeton was yawning visibly, and Aunt Selina was cross. Pauline and Violet looked bored and a little offended. Owen had asked none of his friends to meet them ; he was taking no trouble to amuse them. “Tl asked Beauchamp—confound the fellow, I wonder why he does not turn up,” retorted Owen, rather irritably. “There, I think I hear him now—there are certainly footsteps,” observed Violet, willing to mollify her brother—and Pauline smoothed her brow. Yes, there were footsteps. Ned’s face appeared at the door, smiling and radiant. “Owen, old fellow, I have brought you some visitors,” he said, joyously: and at that moment a little figure in a grey dress darted forward, and rushed up to the astonished Owen. “TI have come, dear. Uncle Powell has brought me. Oh, my dear Owen, are you not glad to have me—Papa and Pauline, and— ah—Violet, too.” And here Mab confronted them, half shyly and half laughing.—‘ Oh, please, do not be angry, anybody!” throwing out her hands with a pretty appealing gesture for mercy. One of them was at once taken and held fast by. Ned. ‘No one shall be angry with you, Mab, while I am here,” observed this very audacious young man. ‘‘ Owen, tell your sister she is wel- come, and Mr. Powell will explain all the rest.” And so he did, to Mab and her father’s entire satisfaction. RosA NOUCHETTE CAREY. EOMINGIOOKS Go im