The Argosy — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

158 Isabel Clifford, M.D. “It zs my wish,” said Isabel decidedly. ‘Then, as if amused at her own earnestness, she added: “Tam not ashamed of my profession, but people stare and make my holiday disagreeable if they know. I suffered from public curiosity last year, and I want to escape it now.” ‘“‘T shall keep your secret, then,” said Mrs. Lawrence, smiling up at Isabel with a very grateful look. Nellie’s French nurse soon appeared, and many were the gestures, sighs and exclamations with which she heard of her little charge’s sudden illness. Isabel withdrew, having ascertained that Marie was ‘well used to such cases and knew all that was needed. Il. DuRING the next few days Isabel saw a good deal of Mrs. Lawrence, and the two women quickly got to know and like each other, though it seemed probable that their paths in life would tend in widely diffe- rent directions. They were sitting one afternoon in a nest of pine-roots just above the hotel, when Mrs. Lawrence said : “My husband will be here to-night. JI am so glad he will meet ‘you and that you will know him. And it is so fortunate that my ‘brother-in-law is coming too.” ““Why is that fortunate?” asked Isabel, lazily trying to catch a ‘outterfly that was settling on a flower close by. “Tt will do him good to see you. He is almost perfect in every- body’s eyes, but in mine his one fault is unpardonable.” Isabel did not seem curious on the subject of Mrs. Lawrence’s jorother-in-law, so that lady went on gratuitously : ‘““ He cannot bear to hear of women doing anything but what he ‘calls domestic duties. He thinks I am a model of all the virtues, because I make Nellie’s frocks and darn Tom’s stockings myself. He ‘would despise me if he thought I could do anything else.” “Then it is fortunate for you he does not know,” said Isabel gravely. “Oh, we are great friends,” continued Mrs. Lawrence. ‘He is very clever and very learned. He has a fellowship at Oxford, and just now he is writing a book. He has never known any women, and that is why his notions are so absurd: I should like you to teach him right views.” ‘““T never work in holiday time—when I can help it,” she added laughing, as Mrs. Lawrence looked up quickly with an affectionate gesture : ‘‘ How lovely that waterfall looks now the sun.is onit. Let us not talk for a little while.” Mrs. Lawrence was becoming used to the moods of her new friend. She sat quite still, only glancing now and then at the pale, quiet face with its intent look. Miss Clifford wore a simple dress of CONNIELYOO <Syeoyrnal