The Argosy — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

“6 Mr. Gordon: Specialist. a complacent glance at the mirror, ‘can wear almost anything, Last night in that green gown which you insisted on buying contrary to my advice” (Virginia unprotestingly bore this charge, which was totally without foundation), “you looked actually frightful. I never saw anything so unbecoming in my life. So unfortunate that you should have put it on just that evening above all others, when there was dancing! I saw the Harpers exchanging whispers—nasty spiteful things !—as we came in at the door. I know they were congratulating each other on your appearance. And they were looking so well themselves in those pretty heliotrope gowns. Certainly they have remarkably correct taste. But then they can’t dance. Anything so ungraceful as the way they pranced and jumped about I never wished to see! Now I will say this for you, Virginia, I have given you the best lessons, and you do them credit. You dance beautifully. It’s the only advantage you have in being small. You can’t come into a room well, and when you're there, you’re lost. But you can dance well with any man, be he big or little. By-the-bye, who was that tall man with the brown beard that you danced the Lancers with? He seemed very agreeable.” ‘IT don’t know who he is, mamma,” Virginia replied. ‘ But he certainly does seem very pleasant. He sat next me in church this morning, and lent me half his hymn-book.” “Eh? What's that?” cried Mrs. Farringdon Griffiths, wheeling suddenly round again from the dressing-table, where, paying but little attention to what her daughter’s answers might be, she had been occupying herself with the small brushes that lay about. ‘Sat next you in church, and lent you his book, do you say? Why, Virginia, you have made a conquest! I verily believe that at last my prayers are answered, and my daughter has an admirer.” Mrs. Farringdon Griffiths devoutly turned her handsome eyes upwards, and then brought them suddenly down to bear on her daughter. ‘* You should be grateful to me, for this time I have not clashed with you,” she said. ‘I have given up dancing ; it is too warm work for a woman of my complexion ; and I was not in church this morn- ing. Why, child, you are absolutely blushing! Dear, dear, dear, dear! I do believe that it’s a fazt accompli. UHere!” hastily snatch- . ing up some wild flowers that Virginia had brought in from an afternoon stroll, and deftly fastening them into the bosom of her daughter’s gown. ‘‘ That gives a touch of colour. Now, come along. If it is to be, it will be.” And to the sound of the clamorous bell the two ladies entered the table-d’hote room, hand in hand. A gocd many of the guests had taken their places. ‘The chairs above the two seats reserved for Mrs. Farringdon Griffiths were already occupied by a party of dowdy-looking ladies, who were excitedly dis- cussing among themselves the exorbitance of the charges to which ECOMMICOOOKSa6O f