The Argosy — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

92 Edina. and keeping a good look out around, lest any Philistine should ap- proach him unawares. This illness of his father’s complicated matters frightfully. In the midst of Charley's worst apprehensions there had lain, down deep in his heart, a vista of possible refuge. He had been wont to whisper to himself, ‘‘ When things come to a crisis, my father will no doubt find a way to help me ;” and the hope had been to his spirit as so much healing balm. But his father, lying in this state, could not be applied to: his repose of mind must not be disturbed : and if Charley fell into some tiger's clutches now, what on earth was he to do? Whistling, softly and unconsciously, a dolorous tune, Charley in- dulged in these highly agreeable reflections. His mother had not come down stairs at all. Alice had gone up to Daisy : Kate and Made- moiselle were reading French under the distant walnut tree. Only Frank was there. “T do think I can smell haymaking !” cried Charley suddenly. “Yes,” assented Frank. ‘Some fields are down.” “Ts it not early for it ?” “We have had an early season.” No more was said. There flashed into Charley’s mind a remem- brance of the day he had first seen Eagles’ Nest: when he had stood at one of the windows, though not this one, gazing out at the charming scenery, at the lovely flowers ; inhaling their perfume, and that of the new-mown hay. Association of ideas is potent, and probably that scent of the hay had brought the day to his memory now. Barely a twelvemonth had passed since then: and yet—how anticipations had changed! He had believed then that perfect peace, ease, prosperity must inevitably attend them as the possessors of Eagles’ Nest: he remembered picturing to himself the calamity it would have been had the beautiful place passed into others’ hands, But he had lived to learn that care and worry could penetrate even there. “There's the postman!” cried Charley. And glad, probably, of the interruption to his thoughts, he went out, and crossed the lawn to meet the man. “Only one letter this morning,” he exclaimed, coming back, with his eyes fixed on it. “ I say, Frank, what is to be done? It is from old Street, and he has put ‘immediate’ on it.” “You had better open the letter yourself, I should say, Charles: my uncle cannot,” said Frank decisively. “I wonder what he has to write about: it is not often we hear from him. Nothing particular, I daresay : the good old father has not, I am sure, a secret in the world. Or—do you think,” added Charley, his face lighting with eager hope, “that the money can have turned up? What a glorious thought! Yes, I will open it.” He broke the seal of the lawyer's letter. At that moment Lamb came in with the fresh coffee. ['rank, still standing by’ the‘ qnantel- comicbooks.com