The Argosy — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

Court Netheriegh. tor he could cali his own; and Moat Grange was mortgaged. He was open-hearted, generous as of old. Ah, if he could only have been as free from care! Dodging in and out amid the vehicles that crowded Regent Street, Robert got over at last, and tore after his cousin. ‘‘ Oscar, Oscar! is it youe” he called out. ‘When did you get here?” ‘“Ah, Robert, how are you? Iwas on my way to South Audley Street to find you.” ‘“‘Come for a long stay ?” demanded Robert, as he linked his arm within Oscar’s. “‘T came to-day and I return to-morrow,” replied Oscar. “You don’t mean that, man! Visit London in the height of the season, and stay but a day! Such a calamity was never heard of.” ‘““T cannot afford London in the season; my purse is not long enough.” “You shall stay with me. But what did you come for?” ‘“A small matter of business brought me,” replied Oscar, ‘‘and I have to go down to-morrow—thank you all the same.” He did not say what the business was; he did not choose to say. Mrs. Dalrymple, still living at the Grange, had been tormented by doubts, touching her son, for some time past. Recently she had heard rumours that rendered her doubly uneasy, and she had begged of Oscar to come up and find out whether there were any, or how much, ground for them. If things were as bad as Mrs. Dalrymple feared, Oscar concluded that from Robert he should hear nothing. He meant to put a question or two to him, to make his observations silently, and, if necessary, to question Reuben. ‘They were of totally opposite natures, these two young men: Oscar was all cool calculation, and the senior by half a dozen years ; Robert all thoughtless impulse. Oscar put his question or two to Robert in the course of the after- noon; but Robert simply waived the subject off, laughing in Oscar’s face the while. And from the observations Oscar made in South Audley Street, nothing could be gathered : the rooms were qulet. They dined there in the evening, Reuben waiting on them. Robert urged various outdoor attractions on Oscar afterwards, but he urged them in vain: Oscar preferred to remain at home. So they sipped their wine, and talked. At eleven o’clock Oscar rose to leave. ‘Tt is time for sober people to be in bed, Robert. I hope I have not kept you up.” Robert Dalrymple fairly exploded with laughter. Kept him up! at only eleven o’clock! ‘* My evening is not begun yet,” said he. “No!” returned Oscar, looking surprised, whether he felt so or not. ‘What do you mean P” “IT am engaged for the evening to Colonel Haughton.” “Tt sounds a curious time to us quiet country people to begin an evening. What are you going to do at Colonel Haughton’s P” feant tell till 1] get there.” ecomnicloooks (CO)