The Argosy — page 313: what you’re looking at

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

204 Two Dreams. better of it, sir, and—and—TI-hope you will forget what has passed.” “You are determined to puzzle me to-day, Simmons, Do you think you are quite mght in your head? MHave you no explanation to give of your strange conduct ?” ‘‘ None, sir,” was the answer, 1n low tones. “Now, what on earth would be the proper thing to do, I wonder ?” thought Colonel Holt. ‘‘Oh, if I didn’t hate trouble so much, and the weather were not so hot! As it is, ‘masterly inactivity’ must gain the day.” And without another look at the delinquent, he made the best of his way up stairs. [Date, August 4th, 1864.] “What can make Effie so late this very morning of all others, when there 1s so much to be done before we start,” sighed Mrs. Perceval, pushing back her chair from the breakfast-table as she spoke, and addressing no one in particular. “What was the row with Effie in the night, mother?” asked James, a boy of fourteen, who at the moment was conveying a large piece of bread and jam to his mouth. “With Effie ?” asked his mother. ‘‘ What do you mean, Jem?” ‘“All I know is,,Isheard .a' seream in the, night,” feplied. jem: ; “and imagined it came from Effie’s room opposite. But I was awfully sleepy, and the next moment I was off again, and forgot all about it till just now.” Mrs. Perceval hastened up to her daughters room. ‘To her great dismay, Effie was sitting on the edge of the bed ina half fainting condition, only partly dressed. ‘““ My darling, are you 111? What is it?” asked her mother. ‘“Oh, mother, mother,” moaned the girl, clinging to her, “don’t go away, don’t leave me,” was all poor Effie could say. ‘Leave you, my child; of course not. But why didn’t you send forme. I had no idea you were ill.” ‘““T did not want to frighten you, and so I tried to get up and dress, and then this horrible faintness came over me, and I could not get to the bell) Oh, mamma, I have had such a terrible night ! ” “My darling! Then it zwas you Jem heard scream ?” ‘““tfe must have heard me, but he didn’t come, no one came; and oh, 1t was so terrible. I shall never, never forget it,” and she trembled like an aspen leaf. ‘One thing is clear,” said Mrs. Perceval, ‘‘we cannot go to the Holts to-day.” ‘“No, no,” said Effie, “I can go on no visits; but I must get away from here, from this room, from this bed,” she added, with a shudder. ‘“We will go anywhere you like, darling,” said her mother, sooth- ingly. ‘Only try to be calm now, and tell me what has upset you so dreadfully.” COM JOOKS (E©) im