The Argosy — page 226: what you’re looking at

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

Arabella at the Sales. 209 SCENE III. The Rector’s study. Round the open windows the westerta and dark red trumpet-blossoms cluster thickly ; while the luscious scent of the magnolia makes all the warm air heavy within. Every now and then a large moth dashes wildly in, and beats etself against the glass of the solitary lamp, or ts heard rust- ling up and down tin the curtained corner of the ceiling. Bats fit past in the dusk. MR. FAIRLOoP, extended luxuriously on the worn-out ample couch, fans himself with his pocket-handker- chief and soliloquises half aloud. Rector. ‘‘ What a day to have been fagging and sweating in town ! How thankful I am to have this quiet old semi-country place to live in! It isat least out of the glare and fever of London, if it is not quite among the bean fields. The flowers thrive too, and we can lead a rational life—if Arabella would only let us. What a time she isincoming! That poor child of mine ” (Takes out hts gold repeater watch, and consults tt. The door-bell rings at the moment, and pre- sently in come the absentees.) ARABELLA (triumphantly). ‘‘ Here we are, here we are. Well, you do look comfortable, and as if you had lain there all day ; while we— Qh, my dear Charles, such a day as we have had! Such heat, such noise, such a Babel of voices, such crowding, such cramming, such a fuss to get a thing before it is snapped up by somebody else, such a Napoleonic expedition altogether ! ” } Rector (rather gravely). ‘“You have bought a great deal then ? ” ARABELLA. ‘‘Indeed we have. Every sort of thing. Garments great and small, parasols, bags, bonnets, handkerchiefs, knick- knacks . REcTOR (vazsing his hand somewhat peremptorily). ‘* Not quite so loud, my dear. You must try—ahem—to moderate your voice a little. I have something to say; something has happened—I have had some bad news.” (Stops, and looks at his daughter, who looks anxtously at him in return.) ARABELLA (excitedly). “Bad news! How? What? From whom P? ” Rector. “Of course we half expected it. Poor Susan’s hus- band ——” ARABELLA. “Dear me!” (Pauses.) ‘ But still it is only in India. I am very sorry ; but a Rector. ‘‘ As I merely saw it in the papers, there is still some hope that I may be mistaken.” ARABELLA. ‘‘ Mistaken? Oh, no. People never are mistaken that way. You may depend upon it you were in the right. Well, I am really grieved—poor Susan— and the worst of it is that Jay’s was the one and only place we did not go near to-day. Not one single, solitary black thing did I buy.” (Leaves the room.) Rector. ‘She is utterly heartless.” VOL. XLII. P COnnicboooks (CO)