The Argosy — page 245: what you’re looking at

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

228 Seventeen, like it, you know, and I wanted to give you something, because— because, you see, it was your birthday, and we’re cousins.” I was saved from the necessity of answering. At that moment the door opened and Uncle Richard entered. I went away to change my dress, leaving uncle and nephew together. The dinner that night was a very silent meal. Will and my uncle seemed to have quarrelled ; Uncle Richard looked irate, Will gloomy. ‘They stayed behind when [ left the dining-room, and when they came into the drawing-room, nearly an hour later, Will looked more gloomy and my gentle uncle more irate than ever. “I’m going again to-morrow, Nell,” Will said, as he stood on the landing, and gave my candle to me, when I was shaking hands and saying good-night to him. ** To-morrow !”’ I repeated. “Yes. Uncle Richard is sending me away. And perhaps he is right, you know. Good-bye, Nell; I shall be gone before you are up to-morrow.” ‘“* Good-bye,” I answered. And I was pleased to think that my tone was as careless and matter-of-fact as his own. “It is a little cold for travelling, but I hope you will have a pleasant journey ; it is quite fine to-night—starlight, see. Good-night—good-bye.” And then I went lightly, smilingly upstairs, and tried to sing as I brushed my hair, and looked out of window at the cold, grey, starlit sky, and tried to sing again, and finally cried myself to sleep. The days and weeks and months passed very slowly after that. February went by; Will did not come again. I remembered every day why he did not come—he needed to be ‘ careful” lest I should fall in love with him—and the remembrance was always enough to make my cheeks burn with shame and indignation. March, April, May passed. June came; and to-morrow would be the twenty-eighth of June, my birthday. I had taken my sewing into the orchard again, for Aunt Maria was scolding everyone indoors. It was a pleasant day. The sunshine was hot on the grass, but a gentle breeze was touching the tree-tops and making a cheerful flutter and rustle in the air. I remember all that now; at the time I do not think I noticed anything cheerful about the day. ‘The seam I was sewing was long and a little dull— and what was there to do when the seam was done P The garden-gate opened, and swung slowly to again. I looked round quickly. There was Will. He was coming towards me, winding his way between the trees. I let my work fall and rose up to meet him. He took the hand I held out to him, and fora moment or two he stood looking down, saying nothing. It was almost as though he had been hungering and thirsting for a sight of me. If I had not known better, I might have shought that Will loved me. ‘“T wish you could say you are glad to see me, Nell,” he said. CONnNIEOOOKS (EO)