The Argosy — page 41: what you’re looking at

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28 The Results of a Hunt Week. be kept at bay,” she added, in half-reproachful reply to a sigh from Agatha. ‘There is no help for it, I suppose,” Agatha admitted. ‘I only gave a sigh to the necessity. But see, they are nearly ready. What am I to say to Mr. Pontifex?” ‘We must be at the church at a punctual 8.30. Mr. Knight will be ready to marry us, and I can walk across the park with Olympe. Rick, of course, brings a carriage, and it will just give us time to catch the express. But, oh, Agatha, I have such a favour to ask you.” ‘* A favour? Out with it, then, dear, and quickly. Mrs. Prideaux- Power has begun her second glove. What you have told me I will carefully pass on to Mr. Pontifex.” “TI know it. But—but—if yoz could be with me, I should feel so much happier and stronger. It is such an ordeal to go through, and you do not know how miserable I am about it.” “That I can easily believe,” said Agatha heartily; ‘‘but I shall be gone. I leave by the 8.31 train, as the express does not always stop at our little station. And, had I stayed, there would have been a hopeless obstacle in ——~” | ‘Oh, no—no worse obstacle, I beg,” entreated Amy. ‘‘ Rick could manage about the train easily, and I should feel more like other girls getting married, and almost happy, if I could but have a bridesmaid, and that bridesmaid you.” ‘“T am so sorry,” said Agatha, pondering; ‘‘ but it would not be right to implicate Mrs. Prideaux-Power. She would naturally prefer to know nothing about it.” ‘“Would she?” said Amy doubtfully. ‘‘She is always very kind to me, and thinks papa so hard.” ‘That is just it,” said Agatha firmly. ‘If she were better friends with your father, it might matter less.” ‘“ Ah, yes, I see,” said Amy dejectedly. Then, brightening: “ But why tell her? You will have ceased to be her guest—unless, indeed, you mind being mixed up with it yourself?” ‘I don't,” said Agatha. ‘Since the step is resolved on, I would gladly support you in any way ; and it is true I should no longer be her guest. Ah! she is calling. I must think it over and let you know.” ‘“ Thanks, thanks ; and speak about it with Rick when you dance together, he makes such capital suggestions,” whispered Amy, on her own part hastening to rejoin her impatient father. Agatha was one of that very select few who really take to heart the troubles of a friend. This Hunt Week, in which she had taken part, had given her food for reflection on a more personal score, but she stood now at her chaperon’s side, fastening the last buttons of her long gloves, absorbed in mental survey of a picture, black enough, of which Amy was sole heroine. CORNICE OOOMKS EO)