The Argosy — page 270: what you’re looking at

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

252 The Master of Greylands. poor. And I shall still be close to Greylands’ Rest: I shall be able to come here to see you often.” ““ Mary Ursula, I will hear no more of this,” he cried, quite passion- ately. ‘You shall never do it with my consent.” She rose and laid her pleading hands upon his. “ Uncle, pardon me, but my mind is made up. I have not decided hastily, or without due consideration. By day and by night I have dwelt upon it—I —-I have prayed over it, uncle—and I plainly see it is the best thing forme. I would sooner spend my days here than anywhere, because I shall be near you.” , ‘And I want you to be near me. But not ina nunnery.” “Tt is not a nunnery now, you know, Uncle James, though the building happens still to bear the name. Though I take up my abode there, I take no vows, remember. I do not renounce the world. Should any necessity arise—though I think it will not—for me to resume my place in society, I am at full liberty to put off my grey gown and bonnet, and do so.” “What do you think your father would have said to this, Mary Ursula ? ” “‘Were my father alive, Uncle James, the question never could have arisen ; my place would have been with him. But I think—if he could see me now under all these altered circumstances—I think he would say to me Go.” There was no turning her. James Castlemaine saw it: and when she quitted the room he felt that the project, unless some hindrance intervened, would be carried out. “The result of being clever enough to have opinions of one’s own muttered Mr. Castlemaine. Turning to the window again, he stood there, looking out. Looking out, but seeing nothing. The Friar’s Keep opposite, rising dark and grim from contrast with the intervening white landscape; the sparkling blue sea beyond, glittering in the frosty sunshine. Mr. Castlemaine had other motives than the world knew of for wishing to keep his niece out of the Grey Nunnery ; but he did not see how it was to be done. Mary Ursula had passed into her own chamber : the best room in the house, and luxuriously furnished. It was generally kept for distinguished guests: and Mrs. Castlemaine had thought a plainer one might have served the young lady, their relative; but, as she muttered resentfully to the empty air, if Mr. Castlemaine could load the banker's daughter with gold and precious stones, he’d go out of his way to do It. Drawing her chair to the fire, Mary sat down and thought out her plan. And, the longer she dwelt upon it, the more did she feel con- vinced that she was right in its adoption. A few short weeks before, and had any one told her she would enter the Nunnery and become one of the Grey Sisters, she had started backin aversion. But ideas change { ECoOMmicloooks (CO) mn —_)