The Argosy — page 210: what you’re looking at

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

Fohn Davidson. 193 of the flying looms. I picture them to myself with all their vibrating, hurrying hands, and revolving spokes, and droning little wheels, and great, silent, big wheels, until I verily seem to be standing in the midst of them. Machinery in motion has all the awe-inspiring power of some of the grand phenomena of nature.” The dancers were still pacing to and fro; all the gay dresses glittering in the gaslight; the buzz of talk and laughter mingling with the music. He looked away from the girl straight in amongst them ; for some reason or other she had touched him strangely. Yes; that dull droning of the wheels, how often I have listened to it,” he said at length, in an entirely new tone of voice. “ There is no music on earth capable of moving me more deeply.” ‘¢ And yet you are passionately fond of music of other kinds,” she remarked, with a quick look at him. She had found out this from the shape of his brow—but he was not to know that. She was fathoming all the deepest recesses of his nature ; she had touched him again. ‘There is very little good music to be heard in Bremingly,” he answered, trying to speak indifferently. “I run up to London if there is anything particular going on; and I am often abroad.” ‘You paint, don’t you?” she enquired, in the same eager way. He almost laughed now, a sudden revulsion of feeling coming to him. The girl was so quick with her questions, she did not even give him time to know his own surprise. * As much as I have time for,” he answered, glancing drolly round at her. ‘‘ Yes, Iam musical, and I paint, and I always was a very good arithmetician. But when I have said that, I am afraid I have said about all. JI hope you are not determined to find out very much more. I am a poor linguist, for instance. What scrapes I got myself into at Antwerp, last week! And then I have not always a particularly patient temper.” She met his fun-lit eyes with a look as comical. “T see; and if I don’t take care I shall begin to tryit. That is what you would have me understand. By-the-way, which paintings. particularly impress you in the Antwerp galleries ?” For an hour and more Miss Egerton and Mr. John Davidson, resolute against all interruptions, sat in this corner and talked of the Antwerp galleries. At the end of that time it was as if they had’ known each other for years. The same evening, after the ball was over, Mrs. Hattley attempted once more to remonstrate a little with her sister. ‘Victoria, love,” she said, “‘I really think Sir Archibald felt that you had neglected him: and Mr. Beauchamp-Eanniston simply left the ball-room.” But Victoria had been standing at the top of the grand staircase to catch Mrs. Hattley, and she was not to be distracted by such information as this. mon. XLII. Ge) JOOKSHEO COM