The Argosy — page 355: what you’re looking at

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

334 Lady Valeria. Daddy is wrapped up in her (so he ought to be), and never takes my part by word or look. Why, mamma won’t even let a visitor be admitted if she is not at home to receive him, and begins to think I ought to go nowhere without her. I can’t make myself twelve years old again.” “Don’t try. Let Lady Archdale realise by degrees that you are a grown up, reasonable woman.” She mistrusted his use of the second adjective, and hastened to strengthen her case. ‘“‘T had Rose to lean on at least, or so I thought till to-day, when I found how completely outside her life Iam, how little needful I am to her. Oh, it hurts, it hurts!” “Tell me,” Mr. Stannard said, with a thrill of sympathy in his voice. ‘‘ What has she done ?” ‘“‘T am not jealous of her love,” Hester protested, half crying. ‘I would give her up gladly to any man worthy of it; but I am perfectly justified in mistrusting and despising the Monchalsea set. And to leave us all for them !” She dashed her tears away defiantly, and in reply to his questioning look told briefly the story of that afternoon, as she had read it. Professor Montrose’s name came in with a certain hesi- tation, and his part in the programme was slurred over, in her anxiety not to betray her friend. But she had an uncomfortable sense that the Vicar was, somehow, mentally supplying the gaps in her narrative ; and she hurried on to her vexation about her fruitless errand to Elsie, laughing at her own inconsistency in being vexed. Then she stopped. ‘“‘ Now tell me the real story. ‘This is all Prologue, is it not?” was the unexpected comment. She flushed up to her honest brown eyes, that wavered and drooped for an instant, and then lifted themselves straightforwardly to the Vicar’s face. ‘No, those are my real troubles; the other is only imaginary.” ‘None the less a trouble.” ‘TI have been consulted on a very delicate and important matter. I have been intensely interested, and kept in suspense for a week, waiting for further news which has never come. Not because there wasn’t any, but because somebody didn’t think it worth his while to come and tellme. I never asked to be confided in. Perhaps he has for- gotten the circumstance. It’s insulting to be thrown over this way.” Hester winked a little wrathful tear back. ‘It’s not baffled curiosity that makes me so angry, it’s because I’m disappointed in somebody.” ‘Don’t mistrust too readily, and don’t condemn somebody un- heard. ‘That is all the advice I have to offer you. I see you are quite capable of saying to yourself all that there is to be said about your difficulties. My lips could give it no more authority. Besides, it’s service time ”—looking at his watch—“‘ what has happened to old Totterdale? No bell!” He and Hester hurried to the west porch, and flinging open the great baize doors solved the mystery. COMMICEOOOKS.E@ im