The Argosy — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

Lady Grace. 3 twenty; she had less beauty than Lady Grace, but a far sweeter countenance. She crossed the churchyard, and opening one of its gates, found herself in a narrow sheltered walk, running through a corner of Whitton Wood. It was the nearest way to her home, Whitton Cottage. A few paces within it, she stood against a tree, turned and waited : her lips parted, her cheek flushed, and her hand was laid upon her beating heart. Was she expecting anyone to join her? Little doubt of it; and that it was one, all too dear to her, the signs betrayed. The ear of love is strangely fine, and she, Edith Dane, bent her ears to listen: with the first sound of approaching footsteps, she walked hurriedly on. Would she be caught waiting for him? No, no; rather would she hide herself for ever, than betray aught of the deep love that lay in her heart for the Reverend Ryle Baumgarten. — It was Mr. Baumgarten who was following her: he sometimes chose the near way home, too: a tall, graceful man, with pale, classic features, and luminous brown eyes set deeply: but in his face might be seen somewhat of irresolution. He strode on, and overtook Miss Dane. “ How fast you are walking, Edith !” She turned her head with the prettiest air of surprise possible, her cheeks bright with love’s rosy flush. ‘‘Oh—is it you, Mr. Baum- garten? I was walking fast to get home to poor mamma.” Nevertheless, it did happen that their pace slackened considerably : in fact, they scarcely advanced at all, but sauntered along side by side, as if to enjoy the beauty of the summer afternoon. ‘‘ They have been taking me to task to-day,” suddenly began Mr. Baumgarten. “Whore The Avons, do you mean? I saw they were at church.” “ Not the Avons. What have they to do with me, Edith?” And Edith blushed at his question; or rather at herself for having mentioned them. “Squire Wells and his wife, with half-a-dozen more, carpeted me in the vestry after service this morning.” ‘What about ?” ‘ About the duties of the parish ; secular, not clerical: I take care that the latter shall be efficiently performed. ‘The old women are not coddled, the younger ones’ households not sufficiently looked up, and the school, in the point of plain sewing, is running to rack and ruin.” Mr. Baumgarten had been speaking in a half-joking way, his beau- tiful eyes alive with merriment. Miss Dane received the news more seriously. ‘“‘ You did not say anything of this at dinner-time; you did not tell mamma.” “No. Why should I tell her? It might only worry her, you know. The school sewing is the worst grievance,” he lightly ran on. ‘‘ Dame Giles’s Betsy took some cloth with her, which ought to have gone back a shirt, but which was returned a pair of pillow-cases: the dame boxed Betsy’s ears, went to the school and nearly boxed Miss Turner's. It seems to me they could not have a better governess GOMIGIOOKSAGO