The Argosy — page 243: what you’re looking at

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

226 Seventeen. Il. DINNER was over. Aunt Maria was laying down the law on some point of social etiquette to Rose and Uncle Richard, who were listening deferentially. Letty was singing her last Italian song. Will was leaning against the chimney-piece close to my chair, and kindly trying to talk to me. At last I succeeded in escaping from the drawing-room. I went slowly upstairs in the dim light, and into the little shabby school- room, where Letty and I had written endless ¢hémes and dictées six months ago. I stood by the open window looking out. I had been standing there two minutes, perhaps, when a step came along the corridor and stopped in the doorway. “May I come in, Nell?” said Will, in a shamefaced, awkward sort of way ; and he did so without waiting for permission. “ I’ve brought you a little birthday-present,” he continued, carelessly, hold- ing out an untidy little paper package; ‘it’s not much of a thing, you know—but I wanted to find out whether you had one already. And if you don’t like it, I’ll get something else.” I think I took the parcel and opened it in order to gain time. The untidy brown paper rolled off and revealed a little flat morocco case, and, lying on the soft lining of the case, was a little pearl necklace, pure and white. My heart was beating fast, my cheeks were burning, as I held out his present to give it back to him. “I cannot have it,” I said, childishly, ungraciously, because no suitable words would come. “I do not want it.” “s Nell J” ** Please take it back,” I said; and he took it humbly. T asked Uncle Richard about it, Nell,” he said, awkwardly. “He thought there was no harm in my giving it. We are as good as cousins, you know—and I give Rose and Letty birthday-presents.” I said nothing. I looked out of the window again, down on the lawn and the lengthening shadows. My heart was swelling with indignation. ‘‘ We are as good as cousins!” He had thought it needful to remind me that the gift was a cousinly gift, no more !— Was I so likely to mistake P “Do accept it, Nell.” I shook my head. I think I was afraid to speak. ‘Tears were very near, and I would not for the world have wept. Why will you not accept it P—Tell me.” I was forced tospeak then. I answered almost fiercely. ‘‘ I should hate it!” I said, passionately ; and then I fled from the room, and upstairs to my bedroom, where I locked my door and cast myself down on the floor and cried as I had never cried in my life before. Will went away next day. Aunt Maria wondered why he went so soon; but I could not wonder, for I heard Rose explain the reason lucidly to Letty. COMI1EOOOKS.G@©