The Argosy — page 379: what you’re looking at

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

358 Paul Smith, A.R.A. Some days later, meeting Lady Somerville at a ball, she was delighted to present the artist to her. “Tady Somerville, allow me to introduce Mr. Paul Smith: our collaborateur, you know, in the tableaux.” Lady Somerville acknowledged the introduction by a slight bow. ‘May I have the honour of the next valse ?” Paul asked, eagerly. “Thank you, I never valse.” The answer was not encouraging, and the tone still less so, but the voice was wonderfully sweet. “The next quadrille ?” ““T am engaged.” ‘The lancers ?” She shook her head and turned away. ‘“‘ Have you no dance to give me?” he persisted. ““T am afraid not,” she answered carelessly enough, smiling the while upon a gentleman evidently seeking to make his way to her through the crowd. As he approached, Paul recognised Lord Duncan Glenholm. Claiming his dance, he led her away with empressement to a quadrille just forming. Anxiously and enviously, Paul watched the two. <A well matched couple ; she, leaning on his arm with willowy, bending grace; he, tall, fair, and broad-shouldered: a fine type of power and strength that could not but find favour in the artist’s eye. ‘This then, was fortune’s favourite, the man who had won the wealthy widow. He was in no mood to dance. The discovery that Lady Somer- ville was the fair unknown had been a blow to any hope he might have had of winning the one woman who realised his ideai of grace and beauty. Less rich, less courted, he might have had a chance ; but now—his gaze followed her, he was wholly absorbed in watching every movement, every turn of the fair face, every glance of the wonderful eyes that never met his own. Was it chance or did she purposely avoid him ? He determined to be convinced. Henceforth, all his energies should be devoted to solving the enigma. Sphinx that she was, he would read and unravel the mystery. The rehearsals at Steynham House would be in his favour. Fervently he blessed Lady Steynham for casting him in the unimportant part of messenger in his picture with Lady Somerville. However, he was doomed herein to disappointment, and had to await the eventful night. In the meanwhile he sought her wherever she was likely to be met. Occasionally they passed in the Row, or he saw her driving or riding in the park ; and he was fain to be content with the slightest of bows, or the very few words that politeness required in recognition, it might be, of some trifling service he was only too happy to render. Had Lady Somerville desired to make him more completely her slave, she could not have acted with greater judgment. The chains of CORNICLIOOKS (E©) im