The Argosy — page 244: what you’re looking at

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

Seventeen. 227 “Tt’s Nell,” she said; “poor little Nell is half in love with him, and I think he sees it. He will not come down again for some time, he says, and I cannot help thinking he is wise.” “He shouldn’t have flirted with her,” said Letty, tersely. ‘‘ He wanted to be kind,” retorted Rose, excusingly. * Nonsense!” said Letty, who had something of Aunt Maria’s decision of speech ; “he flirted! If anyone had asked my opinion I should have said he was in love with her. No wonder she thought so too.” Rose sighed a little at Letty’s Lilla: “At all events he means to be careful now,” she said; “‘hesays he planes out every atom of meaning from his tone and words when he addresses her.” Three months passed before Will came again to see us. He came one Saturday and went away again on Monday, and he seemed to have come from some sense of duty rather than for pleasure, for he had little to say to anyone. He had nothing at all to say to me, though once or twice, looking up, I caught his glance fixed upon me anxiously. : He had not needed on this visit to plane all meaning from his words, for he had scarcely addressed me once. | He did not come again till winter. Aunt Maria had taken the girls to town for a day or two—Uncle Richard was lunching with a friend that day. I had been to the village, and it was late in the afternoon when I returned home.. The drawing-room was in darkness ; the candles had not been lighted yet, and the fire was dull. I crossed the room, and sat down on the rug, stirring the dull fire into a blaze, and I think I sighed once or twice, for it was a little dull with the girls away. Then I became conscious that I was not alone. Someone came slowly across the room into the firelight and held out his hand to me. ** Nell,” he said. What! Will?” Icried; and I am afraid that he knew I was glad—too glad—to see him. * You did not expect me,” he said. “I did not write. It was only this morning that I made up my mind to come.” “It is unfortunate,” I returned, ‘‘ for everyone is away. Aunt Maria and the girls are in London.” “I did not come to see Aunt Maria and the girls ; I came to see you, Nell. You—you and Uncle Richard, you it he added, in an explanatory way. “Uncle Richard will be here presently,” I said hastily. There was a pause. I wished I could look at Will and speak naturally and be at ease. I gazed steadily away from him into the fire, conscious all the while that he was reading my face and interpret- ing my misery. Nell,” he said gently, after a while: “I have offended you in some way. I wish you would tell me what Ihave done. I made you angry about that necklace, I’m awfully sorry. I thought you might CconnicloooKks Co