The Argosy — page 354: what you’re looking at

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

Lady Valeria. 333 used to “our lady’s” ways, had driven round to his usual position, he returned satisfied to await his mistress’s pleasure. How long she knelt there Hester did not know. Another footfall on the flags aroused her, and lifting her head she saw the Vicar enter- ing by the vestry door and looking thoughtfully around. She hoped he did not see her. ‘There was always a certain unspoken antagonism between them, though either would strenuously have denied the fact and professed the highest regard for the other; so, still as a mouse she kept, her bright eyes regarding him sharply. Possibly her mood, a most unusual one, rendered her more sympa- thetic than usual, for she noted for the first time the weary look in his eyes, the anxious lines of brow and lip; or, perhaps, fancying himself alone, he let slip aside for a moment the mask of grave impassiveness that shielded him from the outer world. However it was, instead of the dignified parish priest, calm and strong and self-contained, Hester seemed to see a sorrowful, trouble-laden man, with eyes full of a hopeless yearning, and lips set in pathetic resignation. She looked and wondered, and half rose, and then he saw her. He seemed to take her being there for granted, that was one comfort, Hester thought. “You are early for Evensong, Miss Archdale. I thought I was late!” /2 urn come for’ Service. .I’came to think and -rest;’-she _ answered him rather brusquely. ‘No better place.” He didn’t begin upon Church privileges, or lecture her on neglected opportunities, as Hester dimly feared. He only stood with his face slightly up-raised to the light, thoughtfully smiling. “T’ve had a very bad day,” Hester spoke out suddenly and unac- countably. ‘Everything wrong and wretched from the beginning. It wasn’t my fault. That I maintain. I’m not going in for any dishonest self-abasement. I only want peace and quietness to think things out and see where the misfit lies.” “And have you succeeded ?” ‘““No, not quite,” she admitted. ‘I still feel injured and don’t know who to blame.” Mr. Stannard looked courteously, kindly attentive, and she went on impulsively. ‘It is just this: I used to think I was a great deal to many people, and now I have been suddenly shown that I am of no use to anybody, and it hurts.” ‘““T do not understand you.” ‘““T have had to nurse mamma, and manage the house, since I was quite a little girl; and daddy used to consult me and call me his commanding officer, only in fun, but it was half-true; and, of course, I was an important person in my way. Mamma is well again and we are all happy about it, only, she seems to have taken up life just where she laid it down a dozen years ago. All the arrangements of the house are wrong and must be altered forthwith ; I am only a little girl to be looked after and found fault with and ordered about all day long. GOMIGIOOKSHEO