Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 204: what you’re looking at

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

“OH! 1CANNOT! I CANNOT !” 195 ively he listened for some sound—talking, a peal of light laughter, or the tinkle of a spoon against acup. But all was silent. He was puzzled. | ‘“This is interesting !’’ he ejaculated, mentally. ‘I won- der if they’ve all retired? Or they may have gone out, If so, I shall be in a flunk.”’ He was obliged to ring twice before any one answered, and then the door was opened by the English butler, who apparently was half asleep. ‘‘T beg pardon, Mr. Forrest,’’ he stammered, in confu- sion, as he recognized the visitor, ‘‘but bein’ as the master is ill——”’ T11?’’ interrupted Dick, without waiting for him to finish his apology. ‘‘Ill, you say——’ “Yes, sir, this week and more, and worse to-night, bad luck, with Mrs. Eldridge away. But he went for a ride, ’ imprudently, say I, and——”’ ‘But he is not alone?’’ cut in Dick, for the second time. “No, sir; it’s Miss Cameron is with him all the evenin’ ’ and the doctor——’ But Dick was half way up the staircase by this time. ‘‘You need not announce me,’’ he turned back to say. Making his way rapidly along the upper hall, he ap- proached Arthur’s door, which was closed. He could see, however, that the one separating the in- valid’s chamber from the ‘‘little library,’’ as it was called —a small cozy apartment, in which Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge spent most of their time when alone, was wide open, for a square of light lay across the sill. Thinking it better to enter by this way than to knock, and so probably disturb the patient, Dick stepped into the library, which was lighted only by candles. Gomichbookssco im