The Argosy — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

The Master of Greylands. 93 “I have never been inside it.” “No. The Wests are churlish people, keeping no company. Report Says that Mrs. West is a hypochondriac. They let me go in this morn- ing, and I went over all the house. It is the nicest place, love—and not too large or too small for us; and the Wests have kept it in good condition. You will be charmed with the drawing-rooms, Mary ; and the conservatory is one of the best I ever saw. They want us to take to the plants.” ** Are they nice ?” ‘Beautiful. The Wests are moving to London, to be near good ad- vice for her, and they do not expect to get anything of a conservatory there, worth the name. I wonder what your papa will think about this house, Mary? We might tell him of it now. Where is he?” “ He is out,” she answered. “Just as he was going up to dress, Thomas Hill sent for him downstairs, and they went out somewhere together. Papa ran up to tell me he would be back as soon as he could, but that I must for once receive the people alone.” “‘T wish I might stand by your side to help!” he said, impulsively. “Would any of them faint at itP?—do you think Mrs. Webb would, if she were here? Ah well—a short while, my darling, and I shall have the right to stand by you.” He stole his arm round her waist, and whispered to her a repetition of those love-vows that had so often before charmed her ear and thrilled her heart. Her hair touched his shoulder; the faint perfume of her costly fan, that she swayed unconciously as it hung from her wrist, was to him like an odour from Paradise: he recounted to her all the fea- tures he remembered of the house that neither of them doubted would be their future home; and the minutes passed in, to both, bliss unutterable. The crashing up of a carriage—of two carriages it seemed— warned them that this sweet pastime was at an end. Sounds of bustle in the hall succeeded to it: the servants were receiving the first guests. ‘Oh William—I forgot—I meant to tell you,” she hurriedly whis- pered. “I had the most ugly dream last night. And you know I very rarely do dream. I have not been able to get it out of my mind all day. ‘¢ What was it, Mary?” ‘‘T thought we were separated, you and I; separated for ever. We had quarrelled, I think ; that point was not clear ; but you went off one way; andI another. It was in the gallery of this house, William. You went out at the other end by the door of the dining-room, and I at this end; and we turned at the last to look at one another. Oh, the look was dreadful! I shall never forget it: so full of pain and sadness: and we knew, both of us knew, that,it.was\ the dastcfarewell look : that we should never again meet in this world.” COMIC OOOKS. EO mn —_)