The Argosy — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

The Mystery of Allan Grale. 17 “Ah, Mary Anne—you don’t know.” Mary Anne softened as she saw her mother’s dropping tears. “If he once comes back, mamma,-he will stay, never fear ; he will have found out the difference between his own good home and other places. I cannot think what is keeping him away.” Decidedly, Mary Anne Grale was mystified about what could have caused so deadly a breach between her father and brother. For she retained her first impression : that there had been a quarrel more or less definite between them. “TI should not be surprised if Allan is in London himself,” she said. .. , “ Mary Anne!” “ Wel, mamma, I have thought lately that he may be there. We have bee. 2hinking of Scotland just because of that box—of which nothing seems‘to have come. But what should a sociable, lively young fellow, like Alny, do in that bleak, lonely Scotland, where he knows nobody ?. He has to.stay away from us for a time, I take it, as he and papa are at daggers drawn ; and what more likely than that he should take up his abode in London? It is just the place to live cheaply and privately in; and he would be at no loss for acquaintances. He knows intimately some of the medical students at St. George's Hospital.” Mrs. Grale answered not a word. But the random shot told. She was in that state of mind which catches at any slight ray of hope as a relief. She grew to believe it might be as her daughter said, and she made no further objection to the scheme of going to London. But Mrs. Grale’s protracted unwillingness to go, and some matters of business which arose at the Works needing the presence of the master, took up further time, and December was now getting on. It was finally decided that they should leave Moorland House on the shortest day, and probably not return to it until the end of January. Mary Anne was eager for the departure. Not only for the excite- ment and pleasure that the sojourn would of itself give her, but also because she thought she might see more of George Vivian there than she did at home. He did not often call at Moorland House; and there was no visiting just now at the Court. George often ran up to London, and Mary Anne meant to suggest to her mother that he should on some one of these occasions stay with them there. Mary Anne Grale indulged in delightful visions of morning performances and classical concerts, of choral services and winter galleries, and all their possibilities of téte-a-téte intercourse. ‘She threw out her little bait artfully enough, when George, calling in at Moorland House, found them in the midst of their final prepara- tions for departure. “Of course you will feel it your bounden duty to shut yourself up with the dear invalids at the Court,” she said. “I may have other duties outside the Court,” he answered, rather VOL. XL. | Cc GOMMGIO@ S (C(O)