The Argosy — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

One Christmas Eve. 85 “Chase ” came into view. Here and there the country roads diverged and small cottages were hidden in cliffs or woods; here the Doctor paid his welcome visits. At length his business was finished and he drove across the Chase to show Kitty the view from the heights above the Twelve Apostles. There in the valley winds the limpid Wye, making a horse-shoe of the land, encroaching here and there and babbling on. Now shallow, barely wetting the pebbly bed, now silent and deep, terrible in her judgments of any rash enough to contemplate fording the stream. ‘The oaks and elms of the wooded heights sway back and forth with majestic air, seeking listeners to their oft-told stories of days of old, of glories they have seen, of Tintern lying in the valley below the cliffs. Doctor Driver loved his country and loved to relate its legends, and to descant on its beauties. In Kitty he had a sympathetic listener. But all at once, as they drove on together, happily, he said quietly: ‘“ Kitty, will you be my wife ?” “Oh!” cried Kitty, opening wide her eyes. But she made no further reply. “J wonder if you know that I am usually considered an impatient man,” said Doctor Driver presently. ‘‘ I want an answer.” “You think me silly and affected,” said Kitty suddenly. ‘Do you think I would marry anyone who held such an opinion of me?” “JT hope you would not,” said Doctor Driver, laughing. ‘My opinion is evident when I ask you to marry me.” “Tt’s very queer of you, I think,” said Kitty, frankly. ‘“ There’s Fanny, ever so rich and handsome.” “To you think, then,” he said, quietly, ‘‘ that it makes no difference whom one marries? Would it be the same to you to marry William Martin or me?” ‘“T shall never marry William,” cried Kitty. ‘‘ Never!” “And IJ,” said Dr. Driver, “am equally resolved never to marry Fanny. I have no objection to live single all my life. It is a very happy lot.” The Doctor spoke with some bitterness. Kitty felt as uncomfort able as when he thrilled the air with his lower notes. ‘“T’m old-fashioned,” she said, with a great effort. ‘“‘I know I have a heart, and I—TI believe in love.” “Thank you,” said Dr. Driver. “I like to hear the truth, even when it is so unpleasant as that. Look a little further, Kitty. Try and believe that I, too, have a heart. I began to love you the moment I heard you laugh in the gloaming.” “Yet,” said Kitty, ‘you looked so fiercely at me. I thought you detested me. It vexed meat first—because ” Kitty became silent, and coloured as she met the Doctor’s keen glance. “That was only my way,” said he. “I did not mean to be dis- agreeable. If you knew me better, you would take it as a compliment when I scowl at you.” GOMIiGdoOo SS) im