The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. 995, January 21, 1899

By JESSIE MANSERGH (Mrs. G. de Horne Vaizey), Author of “Sisters Three,” etc.
“‘ARTHUR!—OH—ARTHUR!’ SHE GASPED.”
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Lady Darcy left the young people by themselves after luncheon, and as was only natural, conversation at once turned on the proposed visit to London. Peggy was too much perturbed to speak, but Mellicent put the very inquiry which she most wished answered, being never troubled with bashfulness in asking questions.
“Has your mother’s tooth been hurting her very much, Rosalind?”
“Tooth! what tooth? Oh, I think she did have a little twinge one night; but it’s not the dentist whom she is really going to see. That’s only an excuse. She really wants to go to some parties,” said Rosalind lightly, whereat her brother scowled at her under heavy brows.
“What business have you to say that? What can you know about it, pray? If mother says she is in pain, it is not for you to contradict, and make up your own explanations. Leave her to manage her own affairs——”

He spoke rapidly, but Rosalind only shrugged her shoulders, and whispered something in Max’s ear at which he smiled and nodded his head, evidently taking her part against her brother, to Peggy’s intense indignation.
No words were exchanged between the partners on the subject of the calendar until they were once more at home; when Robert took advantage of the first quiet opportunity and came up to Peggy with a face of set determination.
“Mariquita!” he said, “ I am—not—going—to give in! If you stick to me, I think we can still manage to get the calendar off in time. There are twenty more quotations to be found. I’ll sit up to-night and fix them off, and go on writing as long as I can keep awake, but I can’t take a dozen books up to town with me, so I must leave it to you to finish up. I’ll mark the passages I choose, write the full address on a piece of paper, and leave everything ready for you to make up the parcel. All you will have to do will be to write the remaining cards, and to see that it is sent off on Friday. Five o’clock will be time enough, but if you can get it off in the morning, so much the better. You think you can manage as much as that?”