The Argosy — page 185: what you’re looking at

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

170 The Missing Rubies. Do you know what you are talking about? I shall speak my mind, sir; I shall speak my —— ” A violent fit of coughing put an end to this tirade. And it occurred to Colonel Lindrick that his friend would not have many more opportunities of speaking his mind if he went on at that rate. He immediately began to put out all his powers of soothing. “Tt will all come right,” he said, reassuringly. ‘“‘She does not know her own heart yet. Girls of her age change their lovers twenty times a-year. Let her see more of men, more of the world and its ways; that is the best cure for sentimental nonsense of any kind. I am half sorry that I came here and worried you about the matter.” ‘*'You—could not—have—done otherwise.” Mr. Redburn panted out the sentence with a great effort. “Well, well, I did what I thought best. Alma thought I ought to speak, and she is a clear-headed girl. Naturally, she does not like to look calmly on and see her young friend getting deeper and deeper into a muddle. But it will be all right, I tell you; all right.” ‘“T wish Beatrice had a tenth part of Alma’s common sense,” said Mr. Redburn, somewhat calmed. ‘“Ah, there are very few women who have such a respect for a father’s judgment as Alma has. Even from a child, she would always let herself be guided. I left her in my sister’s care while I was in India ; and I must say she was admirably trained. No heroics, no high-flown ideas. She has never given me a moment’s anxiety.” “You are a lucky man to have such a daughter. By Jove, Lind- rick, I wish I had married and had a child of my own. It’s poor work, making money and leaving it to hospitals and that sort of thing. More satisfactory, you know, to leave it to a pretty young woman, if she will only behave herself properly.” ‘“‘But not satisfactory, you know, to leave it to a young man who has not behaved himself properly ? If you left it to her, in her pre- sent frame of mind, you would be leaving it to him too.” ‘He shail never touch a shilling of my mine! Upon my soul, Lindrick, I’d rather be 4 ‘Of course, of course! Very right and natural. Now, take my advice ; just quiet yourself, and then come down and call Beatrice to walk with you in the garden. You'll bring her to her senses, never fear.” “Do you really think so? Do you think she is seriously in love with that confounded rascal ?” “Do I think any girl of nineteen is ever seriously in love? Intro- duce fifty more confounded rascals to her, and if they happened to be fairly good looking, she would be sweet upon everyone of them. Earle is the only man she has ever seen much of. As yet, no one has tried to put him out of her head. Upon my word, Redburn, I had no idea that you were going to regard this little affair so gravely.” So saying, Colonel Lindrick rose and went away, leaving the old CONMIEOOOKS (E©)