The Argosy — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

14 Lady Grace. ‘Without an effort?” she repeated. ‘‘ Look at me, Charles: and then see what it has cost me.” He repented of his hasty words, sat down by her side, and drew her to him. Her head lay passively upon his shoulder ; and they had just settled themselves into this most interesting position, when the door opened with a crash, and in marched the Sub-dean, Mary’s head started back to its pillow; Charles stood up, folded his arms, and looked fearlessly at the intruder. “So you are here again, sir?” ‘ By appointment, Dr. Dynevor. And I am grieved to see what I do see. She is surely dying.” “You think so, do your” cried the Canon. ‘ Perhaps you imagine you could save her life ?” ‘ At any rate I would try to save it, if I were allowed. What is your objection to me, sir?” he hastily added, his tone one of sharp demand. ‘My connexions are unexceptionable; and many a briefless barrister has risen in time to the woolsack.” “Tam glad you have the modesty to acknowledge that you are briefless.” * I did not acknowledge it, and I am not briefless,” returned Charles. ‘I have begun to get on.” Dr. Dynevor looked at his daughter. ‘‘ Would you patronise this sort of ‘ getting on P’” asked he, ° There was a strange meaning in his tone, which struck on Mary’s ear. She rose in agitation, her hands clasped. ‘ Papa, I would risk it. Oh, papa, if you would only let me, I would risk it and trust it.” “Tf you choose to risk it and trust it, you may do so,” responded the Sub-dean, coolly; ‘‘and that is what Ihave come in to say. But, recollect, I wash my hands of the consequences. When you shall have gathered all kinds of embarrassments about you,” he added, turn- ing to Charles, ‘‘ don’t expect that you are to come to me to help you out of them. If you two wish to make simpletons of yourselves and marry, go and doit. But understand that you will do it with your eyes open, Mr. Charles Baumgarten.” The Sub-dean strutted out of the room, and Charles caught the girl to him, for he thought she was fainting. * How good he is to us!” gasped the young man in the revulsion of feeling which the decision brought him. (To be continued.) CORNIELOOC (F©)