The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story — page 174: what you’re looking at

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THE EVIL GENIUS. 163 lowance for her, but that I cannot consent to sit at her dinner- table, and that I dare not face iny poor little niece aiter what I have heard.” Mrs. Presty recovered all her audacity. ‘‘ A very wise decis- ion,” she remarked. ‘‘ Your face would spoil the best dinner that ever was put on the table. Have you any message for Cap- tain Bennydeck ?” Randal hesitated. The explanation which he had thought of seeking from the captain appeared to be needless now. Benny- deck had a perfect right to please himself in the choice of a wife. If Catherine represented that choice, but one doubt re- mained. Did she give him encouragement? Randal asked if his friend was then at the hotel. Mrs. Presty smiled significantly. ‘‘ Not at the hotel just now.” ‘* Where is he?” ‘‘Where he is every day, about this time—out driving with Catherine and Kitty.” This answer finally disposed of Randal’s last doubt. He took leave of Mrs. Presty with the formality due to a stranger—he merely bowed. That incorrigible old woman treated him with affectionate familiarity in return. ‘‘ Good-bye, dear Randal. One moment, before you go! Will it be of any use if we ask you to the marriage ?” Arrived at the station, Randal found that he must wait for the train. While he was walking up and down the platform, with a mind doubly distressed by anxiety about his brother and anxiety about Sydney, the train from London came in. He stood, looking absently at the passengers leaving the carriages on the opposite side of the platform. Suddenly a voice that he knew was audible, asking the way to Buck’s Hotel. He crossed os line in an in.tant, and found himself face to face with Her- ert. ; FIFTY BOOK. CHAPTER XLI. MAKE THE BEST OF IT. For a moment the two men looked at each other without speaking. Herbert’s wondering eyes accurately reflected his brother’s astonishment. ‘‘ What are you doing here?” he asked. Suspicion overclouded his face as he put the question. ‘‘ You have been to the hotel?” he burst out; ‘* you have seen Catherine ?” Randal could deny that he had seen Catherine with perfect truth-—and did deny it in the plainest terms. Herbert was sat- isfied, ‘‘In all my remembrance of you,” he said, ‘‘ you have COMMICLO® SS (E() im