The Argosy — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

168 The Master of Greylands. the world afterwards. Could it have been that in those, the last few hours of his life, on earth, a foreshadowing of the dreadful fate, about to overtake him, was presented in some vague manner to his mind? It might have been so. About nine o'clock he suddenly rang for the landlord to fetch his inkstand and paper-case, which he had left in his bedroom; and then he wrote a letter, sealed it as he had the one in the afternoon, and put on it the same address. John Bent came in to look to the fire. ‘‘T have made up my mind to get another interview with Mr. Castle- maine before I apply for legal advice,” spoke Anthony. ‘‘ Bless me!” exclaimed John Bent: for the words surprised him. “Yes. I have been thinking it well over from beginning to end ; and I see that I ought to give my Uncle James one more opportunity to settle it amicably, before bringing the dispute openly before the world, and causing a scandal. He was in a passion this afternoon, and perhaps did not quite understand me: when he shall have had time to reflect he may be more reasonable.” | John Bent shook his head. In his own mind he did not believe that fifty fresh appeals would have any effect on Mr. Castlemaine. ‘“‘T say this to myself,” went on Anthony: ‘ Whether Greylands’ Rest is his by right or not, he is in possession of it. Nobody can deny that. And I have tried to put myself in imagination in his place, and I see how cruel a blow it would seem if a stranger came to seek to deprive me of it. I might be as angry as he is.” ‘Then, sir, do you intend to leave him in possession of it?” re- turned the landlord. ‘No, no; you do not comprehend. I must enforce my claim: it the estate is mine, I will never yield it—to him, or to anyone. But it may be his: and I think it is only just to offer him one more oppor- tunity of privately satisfying me, before I take any proceedings. [I shall do so. If I cannot see him to-morrow, I will write to him fully.” ‘¢ The meeting might only lead to another quarrel, Mr. Anthony.” ‘“‘ Well—yes—-I have thought of that. And I fear he would injure me if he could,” added the young man, in a dreamy manner, and speaking to himself, instead of to his landlord. ‘‘ There: don't put more coal, please : it is too warm.” John Bent went away with his coal-scuttle. He remarked to his wife that their inmate did not seem in his usual good spirits. Mrs. Bent, trimming one of her smart caps at the round table by the best kitchen fire, answered that she knew as much as that without being told; and that he (John) had better see that the servants were properly attend- ing to the company in the public room. It was considerably past ten, and the company—as Mrs. Bent called them, which consisted principally of fishermen—were singing a jovial song, when Anthony Castlemaine came out of his parlour, the letter; in COMIC OOOKS. EO —_)