The Argosy — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

Lady Grace. 1I garten is safe. He is suitable in all respects; thoroughly capable, and a gentleman. Besides, you like him.” “Well, I do,” assented Lady Avon. In the evening, when Grace was sauntering listlessly in the rocky walk, wondering whether anyone would call that night or not, she saw him. //77. He was coming along the path from the Rectory. The old Rector had been buried some days now. ‘“‘T have been sitting with Mrs. Chester, and thought I would just ask, in passing, how Lady Avon is,” he remarked, swinging through the gate, as if he would offer an apology for calling. ‘‘ The last time I was here she seemed so very poorly.” “She is not any better, I am sorry to say; to-day she has not come downstairs at all,” replied Grace, meeting his offered hand. “What will you give me for some news I can tell you?” she resumed, standing before him in the full glow of her beauty, her: hand not yet withdrawn from his. He bent his sweet smile down upon her, his deep, dark eyes speaking the admiration that he might not utter. Ryle Baumgarten was no more insensible to the charms of a fascinating and beautiful girl than are other men—despite his love for Edith Dane. She was awaiting an answer. “What may I give?” he said. ‘‘ Nothing that I could give would be of value to you.” ‘* How do you know that, Mr. Baumgarten ?”’ With a burning blush, for she had spoken unguardedly, Grace laughed merrily, stepped a few steps backward, and drew a letter from her pocket. “It is one that came to mamma this morning and it has a secret in it. What zz/7 you give me to read you just one little sentence ?” Mr. Baumgarten, but that Edith and his calling were in the way, would have said a shower of kisses: it is possible that he might in spite of both, had he dared. Whether his looks betrayed him cannot be known ; Lady Grace, blushing still, took refuge in the letter. Folding it so that only the signature was visible, she held it out to him. He read the name, “ Henry.” ‘* Is it—from—Lord Avon?” he said, with hesitation. ‘It is from Lord Avon. He does not sign himself in any other way to us. ‘ Your ever affectionate son, Henry,’ it always runs to mamma: and it is no unmeaning phrase ; he is very fond of her. But now for the secret. Listen.” Mr. Baumgarten, suspecting nothing, listened with a smile. ‘““T have been dunned with applications since I got home,” read Grace, aloud, from Lord Avon’s letter, “some of them from personal friends ; but as you and Grace make so great a point of it, mother, I promise you that Mr. Baumgarten shall have Great Whitton.” In reading, she had left out the words ‘‘and Grace.” She closed the letter, and then stole a glance at his face. COnnicboooks (CO