The Argosy — page 360: what you’re looking at

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

Lhe Mysteries of Heron Dyke. 341 [ have grown tired of calling,” said the Captain. ‘‘Still, in your favour, his spiritual adviser, an exception might well be made.” ‘““T ventured to say as much to surly old Aaron this afternoon,” returned Mr. Kettle. ‘‘He refused at first point-blank, saying it was one of his master’s bad days, and he was sure he would not see me. I persevered; bidding him take a message for me to the Squire; so he showed me into one of the dull old rooms—all the blinds down—while he took it in.” ‘““And were you admitted, sir?” interposed impatient Philip, interested in the story, yet anxious to be gone. ‘“No, I was not, Philip. Aaron came back in a few minutes, bringing me the Squire’s message of refusal. He would have liked to see me; very much; but he was in truth too poorly for it to-day ; it was one of his weak days, and Jago had absolutely forbidden him to speak even to the attendants—and he sent his affectionate regards tome. So I came away: having made a fruitless errand, as usual.” “If Jago’s grand curative treatment consists in shutting up the Squire from the sight of all his friends, the less he boasts of it the better,” cried Philip, as he marched away. ‘‘Tiplady remarked to me the other day that he thought there must be something very queer going on up there,” concluded he, turning round at the gate to say It. Maria Kettle departed for Leamington, and the time passed on. Philip Cleeve attended well to his duties, seeming anxious to make up for past escapades. So far as The Lilacs went, no temptations assailed him, for the place was empty, Captain Lennox having joined his sister in London. No tidings could be heard of the gold snuff- box. Dr. Downes had had it cried and advertised; but without result. It might be that he had his own opinion about the loss; or it might be that he had not. During a little private conversation with Lady Cleeve, touching her state of health, she chanced to mention that she hoped Philip’s future was pretty well assured. Mr. Tiplady meant to take him into partnership, and she had herself placed twelve hundred pounds to Philip’s account at the bank. ‘That's where the young scapegrace has drawn his money from then, for his cards and his dice, and what not,” quoth the Doctor to himself. ‘‘I hope with all my heart I was mistaken—but where the dickens can the box have gone to?” The Doctor was fain to give the box up as a bad job. He told all his friends that he should never find it again, and the less said about it the better. In February Philip had a pleasant change. Mr. Tiplady despatched him to Norwich, to superintend certain improvements in one of its public buildings. Philip, before starting, spoke a word to the archi- tect of the anticipated partnership; but Mr. Tiplady cut him short with a single sentence. ‘‘ Time enough to talk of that, young sir.” COMIC OOO SS (GO