The Argosy — page 255: what you’re looking at

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

238 The Missing Rubies. “Don’t cry any more,” said Beatrice, arranging her dress with gentle hand. ‘‘ Your bonnet is all right, and your eyes are only a little red. I am afraid I have done wrong to upset you so much. But when I am gone, you will think of me kindly, and I shall talk of you to Godwin, often, in the days that are to come.” Somewhat soothed, poor gentle Aunt Jane took her leave of this strange girl, whom she liked and feared, after the fashion of timid people. And then she went homeward, through the cowslip meadows, still lamenting the lost basket, and sighing and murmuring to herself. But before she had crossed the last field that divided her from the house, she had grown a little calmer, and had even stooped to gather a few more cowslips. ‘‘ T will say nothing of this at home,” she thought. ‘ If only Caroline does not see anything unusual in me I can keep the affair to myself. Dorothy will be vexed about the basket, and I shall pretend that I was afraid of her anger. Dear, dear, 1 don’t like pretending any- thing; but what am I to do? It is all so puzzling, and so con- fusing !” After lingering a littie longer on the. old bridge, Beatrice, too, turned back to the high road, and retraced her steps to Colonel Lindrick’s garden gate. She felt unusually tired and spent. Her heart ached with a dull pain, and there were throbbing pulses in her temples. The long garden path was deserted by all save the bees and birds, who seemed to welcome her return with jubilant hum and song. She gained the house without being observed, and met no one but the parlour-maid as she went upstairs. “Say to Miss Lindrick that I hope she will excuse me at luncheon,” she said, wearily. ‘‘ My head aches, and I will lie down for an hour or two.” A few minutes later there was a knock at the door of her room, and the maid entered with wine and sandwiches, and a kind message from Alma. Beatrice ate and drank a little, and then lay down on a comfortable couch in a shady corner, and closed her eyes, longing earnestly for a spell of forgetfulness. She had not expected that sleep would come; but she was over- wrought and over-worn, and her eyes quickly closed. Her slumber was long and deep; it was not broken by any sounds in the house, nor by the noise of wheels on the carriage-drive. She woke at last, just as a little clock on the mantelpiece was striking four; and then, for an instant or two, she wondered where she was. The sleep had left her strengthened and refreshed. She rose, washed her face, smoothed her hair, and went quietly downstairs into the drawing-room. Colonel Lindrick and his daughter were there together, talking with grave faces and low tones. ‘The entrance startled them a little, but they met her with the kindest inquiries. ‘* Are you feeling better?” asked Alma, coming forward anxiously. COMIC OOOKS.C©