The Argosy — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

26 Lhe Master of Greylands. The sudden salutation came from a gentleman who had entered the house hastily. A tall, well-made, handsome young fellow, with a ready tongue, and a frank expression in his dark brown eyes. He stood just inside the door, and did not observe the stranger. ‘Is it you, Mr. Harry ?” said the landlady, glancing round. “It’s nobody else,” he answered. ‘“‘ What an array of jam pots! Do you leave the key in the door? A few of those might be walked off and never be missed.” “T should like to see anybody attempt it,” ‘cried Mrs. Bent wrath- fully. ‘ You are always joking, Mr. Harry.” He laughed cordially. ‘“‘John,” he said, turning to the landlord, “ did the coach bring a parcel for me?” ‘No, sir. Were you expecting one?” Mrs. Bent turned completely round from her cupboard. “It’s nota trick you are thinking to play us, is it, sir? J have not forgotten that other parcel you had left here once.” ‘Other parcel? Oh, that was ever so many years ago. I am ex- pecting this from London, John, if you will take it in. It will come to-morrow, I suppose. Mrs. Bent thinks I’m a boy still.” ‘‘Ah no, sir, that I don’t. You’ve long grown beyond that, and out of my control.” “Out of everybody else’s too,” he laughed. ‘ Where I used to get cuffs I now get kisses, Mrs. Bent. And I am not sure but they are the more dangerous application of the two.” “* {am very sure they are,” called out Mrs. Bent, as the young man went off laughing, after bowing slightly to the stranger, who was stand- ing up, and whose appearance bespoke him to be a gentleman. “‘ Who was that ?” asked the stranger of John Bent. “That was Mr. Harry Castlemaine, sir. Son of the Master of Greylands.” With one leap, the stranger was outside the door, gazing after him. But Harry Castlemaine, quick and active, was already nearly out of sight. When the stranger came back to his place again, Mrs. Bent had locked up her cupboard, and was gone. ‘A fine-looking young man,” he remarked. ‘‘ And a good-hearted one as ever lived—though he is a bit random,” said John. “TI like Mr. Harry: I don’t like his father.” ‘Why not?” “Well, sir, I hardly know why. One is apt t to take dislikes some- times.” ‘You were speaking of Greylands’ Rest—of the rumours that went abroad respecting it when old Mr. Castlemaine died. What were they ?” “Various, sir; but all tending to one and the same point. And that was, whether Greylands’ Rest had, or had not, legally come to Mr. James Castlemaine.” (CO) mn —_) “‘ Being the second son,” quietly spoke the stranger. “"ihere can be MICO KS