The Argosy — page 224: what you’re looking at

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

A Free-Will Offering. 207 Oh, hang it all!” began the Major, but seeing Miss Drayton’s grieved look he broke off, and continued again in a resigned voice : “Ves, yes, my dear. I'll do it, of course. Just as you like.” Miss Drayton did not seem to notice the suppressed irritability of his tone. She gave him a grateful glance, and then coming round to him on the hearthrug laid her hand gently on his arm and looked up into his face. “T don’t bother you terribly, do I, Harry ?” she asked anxiously. “T could not bear to do that. But you know you have been so long out of ladies’ society, and mamma and I have always been used—I mean—” stammering rather helplessly, ‘‘ we don’t like—our friends don’t P The Major flushed a little, but then laughed, and took the oppor- tunity to move away from Miss Drayton. "No, no, Nettie, you needn’t be afraid,” he said, reassuringly; ‘I won’t put you to shame. [ll be on my very best behaviour, and swear that I am the lineal descendant of—Aaron, or whoever else you like.” Then stopping at the door and looking back: ‘‘ And it’s to be quite exciting, for you’ve got some lions coming, haven’t you?” “Oh, yes!” answered Miss Drayton blandly. ‘‘Mr. Cross has promised to look in, and Miss Levison is coming too. She’s a veal Jewess, you know, by birth I mean, though her aunt and cousin are not. Mr. Cross converted her a long time ago. I don’t know her well—she’s rather difficult to get at. But I believe she’s very clever.” “Oh! <A clever converted Jewess!” Major Brown interrupted, laughing again, and left the room. Il. THE drawing-room was very hot and quite full of ladies. The gas was lighted and threw bright lights and deep shadows on the bonneted heads of Mrs. Drayton’s guests as they sipped their tea and chatted together of amiable nothings. Major Brown had retreated to a secure corner near the door, barricaded by a screen and a sofa, and from this point of vantage let his weary eye wander aimlessly over the crowd. For some time he had been watching Nettie as she flitted about among the guests, supplying their five o’clock wants, and seeing that they were grouped in order suitable for the exchange of that small gossip so dear to the hearts of ladies. Every now and again, he noticed with an amused interest, she would spare a moment from these duties in which to receive the strictly ecclesiastical attentions of her clerical admirer. There had been music which had ceased, and conversation had recommenced with fresh vigour. The Major had fallen into a brown study, from which he became conscious of waking suddenly with a start as a strange harmony stole through the room, soft, yet piercing the babel of voices. CORNICLIOO <S (SO) am