Ainslee's Magazine, February 1913 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

16 ice toward him, and looked it more or less. It made Mr. Medlicott nervous, although she answered gently enough when he addressed her. Inwardly she was trying to overcome the growing re- vulsion she was experiencing. Tricks of speech, movements of hands, even the way Eustace’s hair grew were all irritating her. She only longed to con- tradict every word the poor man said, and she felt wretched and unjust and at war with herself and fate. At last things almost came to a point when he moved his chair so that he should be » close to her, and a little apart from the others, and whispered, with an air of absolute proprietorship : “My little Stella has changed her sweetly modest way of hairdressing. I hardly think the new style is suitable to my retiring dove.” “Why, it is only parted in the mid- dle and brushed back into a simple knot,’ Miss Rawson retorted, with sparkling eyes. -‘“‘How can you be so ridiculous, Eustace? It is merely be- cause it is becoming, and more in the fashion, that you object; there is noth- ing the least remarkable in the style itself.” Mr. Medlicott’s thin lips grew into a straight line. “It is that very point—the suggestion of fashion—that I object to; the wife of a clergyman cannot be too careful not to make herself attractive or re- markable in any way,” he said senten- tiously, his obstinate chin a little for- ward. “But I am not a clergyman’s wife yet,” said Stella, with some feeling, “and can surely enjoy a few of the things of my age until | am—and doing my hair how [ please is one of them.” Mr. Medlicott shrugged his shoul- ders; he refused to continue this un- seemly altercation with his betrothed. He would force her to see reason when once she should be his wife; until then he might have to waive his authority, but would show her by his manner that she had offended him; and, judging from the attitudes of the adoring spin- sters he had left at Exminster, that should be punishment enough. AINSLEE’S He turned to the Aunt Caroline now, and addressed her exclusively, and Stella rebelliously moved her seat back a few inches, and looked across the room; and at that moment the tall, odd- looking Russian came in, and retired to a seat far on the other side, exactly opposite them. Here he ordered a hock and seltzer with perfect unconcern, and smoked his cigarette. Miss Rawson could hardly bear it. “There is that extraordinary man again, Stella,” Mrs. Ebley turned to her and said. “I thought he had gone, as he was not at luncheon to-day. I am sure your flancé will agree with me that such an appearance is sacrilegious ; he must know he looks like a saint; and I am quite sure, from what I have heard from Martha, he is not one at all. He lives in the greatest luxury, Eustace,” she continued, turning to the Reverend Mr. Medlicott, ‘‘and probably does no good to any one in the world.” “How can you suppose that, Aunt Caroline?” Stella answered, with some spirit. “It is surely very uncharitable to judge of people by their appearance and—and what Martha repeats to you.” Mrs. Ebley gasped; never in her whole life had her niece spoken to her in this tone. She to be rebuked! It was unspeakable. She could only glare behind her glasses. What had come to the girl in the last two days? If this manner was the result of travel, far better to have stayed at home. Here Canon Ebley joined in, hoping to bring peace. “You have told Eustace what is in store for him to-night, have you not, Caroline, my dear?” he asked. “We have to put on our best, and take our ladies to the embassy to a rout, Eus- tace,” he went on genially. ‘There is a Russian grand duke and duchess pass- ing through, it appears, who are going to be entertained.” “There will be no dancing, I sup- pose,” said Mr. Medlicott primly, ‘‘be- cause, if so, I am sorry, but I cannot accompany you. It is not that I dis- approve of dancing for others,” He has- tened to add, “but I[ do not care to watch it myself. And I do not think (E@) ANIC _OOK (E@)