The Argosy — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

Court Netherleigh. 163 as she did before her marriage; she was not yet old enough or wise enough to be trusted alone. | And Mr. Grubb came up from Blackheath to make known his decision to Lord Acorn. It was the morning following the day of Charles’s release, and of Sir Turtle Kite’s dinner at Chenevix House. Mrs. Lynn’s illness had been a dangerous one. For many hours it had not been known whether she would live or die. On the Tues- day evening Mr. Howard went to Blackheath, carrying with him the tidings of the obduracy of Sir Turtle Kite: and in consequence of this, Mr. Grubb came up on the Wednesday to attend the examination. His mother was then a shade better, but he returned to her the instant the examination was over and Charles released. On the Thursday morning Mr. Grubb again came up, as just stated, to confer with Lord Acorn. On his way, he called at his own home in Grosvenor Square, intending to acquaint his wife with his decision— that they must separate—but not to enter into details with her. Hilson looked very glad to see his master, and feelingly enquired after Mrs. Lynn. Better, answered Mr. Grubb: she might now recover. ‘Ask Lady Adela if she will be good enough to come to me here,”’ he added to the butler, as he turned into his library. ‘Her ladyship is not at home, sir,” promptly replied Hilson. “Not at home!”—and Mr. Grubb could not altogether keep surprise out of his tone. ‘‘She has gone out early.” “My lady left home yesterday morning, sir. Before breakfast. Davvy, I believe, carried a cup of tea to her room.” ‘¢ But she came back, I suppose?” ‘No, sir, not since.” ‘Where is her ladyship gone? Do you know?” ‘Not at all, sir. Davvy was very mysterious over it. She heard her lady say this was no longer any home for her; she told me that much. John was sent to fetch a cab, and her ladyship and Davvy went away in it with a carpet bag.” “She must be at Lord Acorn’s,” remarked Mr. Grubb; a con- clusion he had rapidly come to. Hilson agreed with it. “No doubt, sir. My lady must have felt lonely here without you.” Mr. Grubb went straight to Chenevix House. Not to see Adela, but to enter on his business with Lord Acorn. And then, as you find, he learnt that she was not there. “Stay a moment,” said Lord Acorn, a recollection occurring to him. ‘“ Adela was at Colonel Hope’s yesterday: I remember Frances said so. She must be staying there. That’s it,” “Probably so,” was Mr. Grubb’s cold assent. ‘She has, I say, _ taken the initiative in the matter.” He sat down as he spoke, motioning Lord Acorn to the seat on the other side the small table between them, and took a paper from his pocket-book on which he had pencilled a few notes, as to the terms of the separation. ECORnNICl OOS (C©)