The Argosy — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

76 The Diamond Bracelet. , | —— -¥ stairs alone. Miss Seaton has been ill, sir, ever since the bother, and 4 Lady Frances is staying at home with her.” = ‘I'll go up and see them. If the colonel and my lady are at ie Opera, we shall be snug and safe.” “Oh, Mr. Gerard, had you better go up, do you think?” the man ventured to remark. “Ifthe colonel should come to hear of it Pa “How can he? You are not going to tell him, and I am sure the young ladies will not. Besides, there’s no help for it: I can’t go out again, for hours. And, Thomas, if any demon should knock and ask for me, I am gone to—to—an evening party at Putney: went out, you know, by the other door.” Thomas watched him run up the stairs, and shook his head, thinking deeply. ‘One can’t help liking him, with it all : though where could the bracelet have gone to, if he did not take it?” The drawing-rooms were empty, and Gerard made his way to a faa room that Lady Sarah called her boudoir. There they were: Alice buried in the pillows of an invalid chair, and Lady Frances careering about the room, apparently practising some new mode of waltzing. She did not see him: Gerard danced up to her, took her hands and joined In it. “Oh!” she cried, with a little scream of surprise, “you! Well, I have stayed at home to some purpose. But how could you think of venturing within these sacred and forbidden walls? Do you forget — that the colonel threatens us with the terrors of the law, if we suffer you to enter? You area boid man, Gerard.” | ‘“‘When the cat’s away, the mice can play,” said Gerard, treating them to a pas seul. ‘““Mr. Hope!” remonstrated Alice, lifting her feeble voice, ‘‘ how can you indulge in these spirits, while things are so miserable?” “ Sighing and groaning won't make things light,” he answered, sitting down on a sofa near to Alice. ‘“‘ Here’s a seat for you, Fanny; come along,” he added, pulling Frances to his side. ‘“ First and foremost, has anything come to light about that mysterious bracelet ?” ! “Not yet,” sighed Alice. ‘‘ But I have no rest: I am in hourly fear of it.” ‘““ Fear /” uttered Gerard, in astonishment. os cae . Alice winced, and leaned her head upon her hand: she spoke in a low tone. f | ‘You must understand what I mean, Mr. Hope. The affair has been productive of so much pain and annoyance’to me, that I wish it could be ignored for ever.” “Though it left me under a cloud,” said Gerard. “ You must pardon me if I cannot agree with you. My constant hope is, that daylight may soon be let in upon it. I assure you I have specially-mentioned it in my prayers.” “ait -_—— Eomicbooks.co