The Argosy — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

102 Court Netherleigh. “ Can I accompany you ?” Robert’s face turned grave. ‘‘No,” said he, “it is a liberty I may not take. Colonel Haughton is a peculiar-tempered man.” “Good night.” “ Good night, Oscar. Come to breakfast with me at ten.” Oscar Dalrymple departed. But he did not proceed to the hotel, where he had engaged a bed : on the contrary, he took up his station in a shady nook, whence he could see the door he had just come out of; and there he waited patiently. Presently he saw Robert Dal- rymple emerge from it, and betake himself away. A little while yet waited Oscar, and then he retraced his steps to the house, and rang the bell. Reuben answered it. A faithful servant, getting in years now. Robert was the third of the family he had served. “Reuben, I may have left my note-case in the dining-room,” said Osear. “Can. look for:at:?,? The note-case was looked for without success: and Oscar discovered that it was safe in his pocket. Perhaps he knew that all the while. “Tam sorry to have troubled you for nothing, Reuben. Did I call you out of your bed?” . “No, no,” answered the man, shaking his head. “ There’s rarely much bed for me before daylight, Mr. Oscar.” “ How is that ? ? ““T suppose young men must be young men, sir. I should not mind that ; but Mr. Robert is getting into just the habits of-his uncle.” Oscar looked up quickly. ‘‘ His uncle—Claude Dalrymple?” he asked, 1n a low tone. : “Ay, he is, sir: and my heart is almost mad at times with fear. If my dear late master was alive, I should just go down to the Grange and tell him everything.” An idea floated into the mind of Oscar as he listened. Mrs. Dalrymple had not mentioned whence she had heard the rumours of Robert’s doings: he now thought it might have been from no other than Reuben. ‘This enabled him to speak out. “Reuben,” he said, “I came up to-day at Mrs. Dalrymple’s request. She is terribly uneasy about her son. Tell me all, for I have to report it at the Grange. If what we fear be true, something must be done to save him.” “It is all true, sir, and I wrote to warn my mistress,” cried Reuben. ‘Should things ever come to a crisis with him, as they did with his uncle, I knew Mrs. Dalrymple would blame me bitterly for not having spoken. And I should blame myself.” Oscar Dalrymple gazed at Reuben, for the man’s words had struck eae on his ear. — Do you fancy—do you fear—things may me to a crisis with him, as en?’ did with his uncle?” he breathed in a low tone. EORNIELOOO KS. E@ im