The Argosy — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

Many Waters Quench not Love. 143 It was on the tip of Laura’s tongue to raise objections. Aunt Dorothy kept entirely in her own rooms, and it would be qufte an innovation to establish her in the drawing-room. But she just looked at her aunt’s face and saw there so much eagerness and wistfulness that something stirred her heart. She was almost surprised at herself for the alacrity with which she said : “Certainly, Aunty. Let us try.” “The drawing-room door is of course wider than this,” said Aunt Dorothy, “‘so we need take no measurements. Go, my dear, and clear away the mats in the way, and see that there is room made in the best window for seeing from, and close the folding doors. Be quick, or somebody will come.” Even in old age, Aunt Dorothy’s clear brain could foresee diffi- culties and provide against them, so that her niece had nothing to do but obey her orders. ‘There is a certain pleasure in following distinct directions, even if given in rather a peremptory way—as these were. Aunt Dorothy did not “ shilly-shally ” to the end: she wasno “limp” person, even yet, when anything was to be done, and these are always the best captains in war or out of it. With a look of strange excitement on her face, she waited Laura’s return. Almost inadream she heard her niece’s voice saying, ‘*‘ Now, the coast is clear,” and answered she was ready, with a singular feeling of talking in her sleep. Carefully through the first door, carefully through the second, with a little difficulty about the turn, was the chair propelled. Easily then, along the smooth carpet to the window, underneath which the carriage, of necessity, must pass. “Thank you, dear child. He wasavery dear friend in times gone by. Now leave me,” said Aunt Dorothy. ‘‘ If anyone comes they must be shown to the inner room. I wish to be alone.” And Laura went away witha suspicion of the truth that made her smile a little half-sadly, then sigh, and sighing, think: ‘‘ We shall all be old some day.” Meanwhile Aunt Dorothylooked out of herwindow, which faced one of the principal hotels and commanded a long stretch of street, winding up towards Friar’s Hill. No carriage was in sight. It was the other window of the room that had the sea-view, but to the right of the houses a pretty piece of country was seen, where ‘‘ heaths, starred with broom ” mingled their gold with the sunset rays that poured on them from the opposite horizon towards which the sun was declining. Aunt Dorothy did not see it just then. She leaned back in her wheel-chair, and covered her eyes with her hands. A half-smile— but it was a very sad one; much sadder than any tears could have been—was on her lips, and she said in an undertone : ““¢T arn again for Cydnus, to meet Mark Antony !’” Then came silence.—She was not an old woman any longer. Oh COMIC OOO KS (CO) im