The Argosy — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

The Story of Charles Strange. 103 waistcoat. They are to be married in the autumn when the House is up. The very notion of my marrying Arnold Ravensworth !” broke off Blanche with another laugh. A laugh that was quite sufficient to prove the fact that she was heart-whole. “The House!” repeated the Major. ‘‘ Who is he then?” ‘He is very well off as to fortune, and is—something. It has to do with the House, not as a Member, though he will be that soon, I believe. I think he is secretary to one of the Ministers. His father was the elder brother, and the Reverend John Ravensworth the younger. There is avery great difference in their positions. Arnold is well-off and said to be a rising man.” Every word increased Major Carlen’s vexation. Even had his fear been correct, it seemed that the young man would not have ‘been an undesirable match for Blanche, and he had saddled himself with her at a most inconvenient moment! “Well, well,” thought he; ‘“‘she will soon make her mark, unless I am mistaken, and there’s as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it.” Mrs. Guy, widow of the late Admiral Guy, vegetating for years past upon her slight income in Jersey, was Major Carlen’s younger sister, and a smaller edition of himself. She had the same generally fair-featured face, with the twisted nose and the grey eyes; but while his eyes were hard and fierce, hers were soft and kindly. She was a well-meaning, but indescribably silly woman; and her nervous fears and fancies had so grown upon her that they were becoming a disease. Lying before the fire on a sofa in her bed-room, she received Blanche with a flood of tears, supplemented by several moans. ‘The tears were caused by the pleased surprise ; the moans at her having come home on a Friday, for that must surely betoken ill-luck. Blanche was irreverent enough to laugh. Major Carlen still counted a few acquaintances of consideration in the social world, and Miss Heriot was introduced to them. Mrs. Guy was persuaded to forget her ailments temporarily, and to act as chaperon. The Major gave his sister a new dress and bonnet and a cap or two; and as she had not yet quite done with vanity (has a woman ever done with it ?), she fell before the bribe. He had been right in his opinion that Blanche’s’ beauty would not fail to make its mark. So charming a girl, so lovely of face and graceful of form, so innocent of guile, had not been seen of late. Before the spring had greatly advanced, a Captain Cross made pro- posals for her to the Major. He was of excellent family, and offered fair settlements. The Major accepted him, not deeming it at all necessary to consult his daughter. Blanche rebelled. ‘I don’t care for him, papa,” she objected. The Major gave his nose a twist. He did not intend to have any trouble with Blanche, and would not allow her to begin it. “Not care!” he exclaimed in surprise. ‘ What does that matter? cComicooolks (S(O)