The Argosy — page 234: what you’re looking at

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

A Free-Will Offering. 217 The Major led the way silently to a deserted parlour. Roger shut the door after them, but he did not sit down. He went and leant against the white china stove and looked curiously at the Major, who had dropped into a big arm-chair, At last he spoke. “You are not offended with me, are you?” he said deprecatingly, and the Major caught the shadow of a certain wistfulness which he had sometimes observed in his manner towards Sara. ‘“ Because I did not wish to be uncivil. I am naturally short-tempered, and of course the events of the last few days ——” He stopped and drew his long, bony hand over his eyes. When it dropped again his face was tinged with colour and his eyes shone. * But, as I was telling you, we are to be married to-morrow, and we have no friends here. Not a soul that we know beside the chap- lain and yourself. Would it be asking too much,” again he fixed his scrutinising gaze on the Major’s face; “‘should you greatly object to —attending the ceremony—to—a—in short—acting as Sara’s relative and giving her away ?” He turned, and looked at an inappropriate engraving of Werther’s tomb on the wall behind as he finished his sentence. Major Brown sprang out of his chair and came and stood beside “ Did you tell Miss Levison that you were going to ask me?” he inquired. “Yes,” said Roger, still with averted look. ‘‘She said I had better not. But I know she would like it. It is so solitary for a girl without a single ‘i ‘“‘T will come,” interrupted the Major impulsively. ‘* Give me the hour.” “ Half-past ten, and I thank you,” said Roger as he left the room. MIL, Major Brown had sent the sublimest bouquet that Homburg could offer to the bride, and had dressed himself with due care for the ceremony. He was only eager now for it to be over. As to what would happen afterwards he was not conscious of any feeling of curiosity; he had not energy to form any plan. He was | dimly aware that the Bournemouth letter which he had found awaiting him in his hotel on his return the day before had been not _ from Nettie but from Mrs. Drayton: that it had announced the fact — — that by Nettie’s express desire her mother was writing to cancel the long engagement of eight years’ standing, which at the same time she denounced in emphatic language as a youthful and inconsiderate folly. Nettie had at last agreed to the curate’s patient suit, Mrs. Drayton said, and they all felt that this was in every way a most suitable marriage for a young lady of her convictions. Mrs. Drayton had not been able to resist adding the satisfaction which she herself CORNIECLIOO €5) (SO)