The Argosy, Vol. 59

# "When Leaves Were Green" by Sydney Hopkinson

The Argosy, January 1895, features the opening serial installment of a romantic novel. The protagonist, Glyn Beverley, is a young painter working in the woods of the South Downs near the village of Harleyford. While sketching, he is interrupted by two ladies—the melodious-voiced, brown-eyed Blanche and the more vivacious widow Mrs. Laura Courtenay Byng—who accidentally damage his paint supplies. The encounter proves fateful: Blanche's father, Sir Percy Venables, a prominent local connoisseur and landowner, arrives with his daughter to view Glyn's work. The narrative, heavily descriptive and sentimental, establishes romantic tension as Glyn finds himself drawn to Blanche's gentle nature and enchanting voice, while Mrs. Byng displays flirtatious interest in the handsome young artist. The chapter concludes with the arrival of the distinguished visitors, promising further developments.