The Argosy — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

140 Roy’s Good Samaritan. the rare smiles so coveted by the little circle of admirers whom she kept at a respectful distance. As Mrs. Beaudesert passed Geoff, the moonlight shining upon the fine face whose paleness contrasted with the crimson silk wrap flung about her head, her dark trailing dress caught upon the iron scroll-work of the table which held Colonel Pierrepoint’s café notr. He sprang up and released her, and as he raised his hat in silence she recognised him with a grave bow. A strange thrill ran through him at this brief contact even with the hem of her garment. This cold, proud Englishwoman who held herself so aloof, what odd spell attracted him to her? What subtle instinct made him divine her tastes, opinions, wishes—hear her every word, whether addressed to him or not—become suddenly conscious of her presence in the most crowded assembly? He was vexed with himself for being unable to ignore her, yet he despised the poor wretches who sat at her feet craving as it were a crumb of notice from her bounty. Many among them envied his opportunities, for about this time Lady Lucy caught a chill which confined her to her rooms. They were in the west wing of the hotel, close to those occupied by Mrs. Beaudesert, who spent much of her time with the invalid. Often as not when Geoff paid his visits to his aunt he would find Mrs. Beaudesert in her favourite low chair by the window overlooking the purple Mediterranean, doing her best to cheer poor Lady Lucy, who was depressed and out of spirits. She showed to especial advantage in these tender moods of womanly compassion, and—while they were united in the common task of amusing Lady Lucy—was for the time being less distant to Geoff He was almost selfish enough to feel sorry when his aunt’s health improved, and she was able to. pace the garden, leaning on his arm, for convalescence relaxed her claim on her friend’s society, and Mrs. Beaudesert resumed her usual long country walks with other acquaint- ances who had lately felt themselves neglected. Geoff rarely saw her now except on Sunday, when, like himself, she was a regular attendant at the English church. He was annoyed to find himself counting the days every week to this red-letter one, and determined to make one desperate effort to break the spell which bound him. Luckily the arrival about this time of an old friend who was yachting in Mediterranean waters gave him an opportunity of escape ; and Pierre- point gladly accepted Sir Fergus Farquharson’s invitation to take a short cruise with him after the Carnival. Lady Lucy was well enough to spare him now; he would return later and escort her back to England. In the interval Mrs. Beaudesert might leave M ; pro- bably they would never meet again. As their acquaintance was so nearly at an end, Geoff permitted himself the indulgence yet one more Sunday of passing a blissful hour or so in the same church with her. On his way to Lady Lucy’s rooms, before service, he met Mrs. Beaudesert in the hall. She was already in walking dress, and carried ECORNIELIOOKS EO m