The Argosy — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

38 The Results of a Hunt Week. to aid the suggestion and point his words, he was not aware of it till brought to book later by humble self-scrutiny. ‘“ Reproach not your daughter or me, Mr. Seaton,” he said, with severity that soon took a crescendo form. ‘‘ Reproach yourself alone. You were entreated and counselled in vain. No good reason could you show, yet you deprived your daughter of her woman’s right of choice, and expected her to be happy with baubles and luxuries that you gave her for your own gratification rather than hers. Don’t speak to me of love. What love worth the name have you shown her? You are allowing yourself to grow into a tyrant, oppressing your fellows and dishonouring your Maker. Go home and ask your- self what part you have in love, and whether you have studied what it really means in God or man.” After these words, spoken with flashing eyes (it was by no means the first encounter between the two), there was little to be done but back out of the Rectory as fast as possible, and the fly was soon at the hall-door of the Keep. A tempest that has lashed the waves into yeast with fury, yet un- spent, might typify Mr. Seaton’s aspect, but he refused Godfrey’s earnestly-repeated offer to remain with him. ‘T will see you another day,” he said, and they were the first words he had uttered since their stormy exit from the Rectory ; ‘*‘ but to-night I must be alone.” He put his thanks into a silent but fervid shake of the hand, then passed within his own doors, butler and footman trying not to look as if the secret of the little church had reached their ears some guilty hours ago. Godfrey gazed after him with compunction, so desolate in misfor- tune did he seem, but his companionship he could no farther intrude. It was yet early in the afternoon. He turned to the flyman and ordered himself to be driven to a mansion ten miles off: Ffoulkes Manor. Agatha’s share in the conspiracy had been casually revealed in Mr. Knight’s statements. That February afternoon of showers, the news of the elopement sped fast around the wet country-side. ‘The departure from the station had attracted notice, and it was soon known that Miss Ffoulkes. had accompanied the young couple no farther than her own station. Birds of the air carried the news of the wedding direct from the church tower, and by the time Lord Heliotrope and Charley Byce had told what they knew to their special friends, the unenlightened were in a minority. The latter, in mysterious asides, put Mrs. Prideaux-Power in possession of the facts. She had brought in a drag-full of visitors to the horse sale. On hearing that Agatha Ffoulkes had been seen with the runaways, and realising that she had changed her train on getting a message from the Rectory, her mother- wit pieced the story together at a glance. ‘She knew everything,” she said, with conviction. ‘I shall never forgive that girl as long as I live!” CONMNICLOOOKS EO)