The Argosy — page 186: what you’re looking at

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

Court Netherleigh. WI Miss Upton lifted her hands. ‘‘ What a sum of money to win, or to lose! He might have lost it, I suppose, as easily as gained it; and then where would he have been? How can men do these things lightly? How much does he owe you ?” The question was put abruptly. A faint colour tinged Mr. Grubb’s face. He seemed to hesitate. “Vou do not care to say,” quickly spoke Miss Upton. ‘“ Quite right of you, no doubt. I conclude you feel pretty secure, having taken his bonds on Court Netherleigh—whenever that shall fall in.” ‘‘T have not taken any bonds on Court Netherleigh. Believe that, Miss Upton.” “To you mean to say that he has not offered you bonds on it, as security for your loans ?” “He has offered them over and over again. But I have never takenthem. In the first place, it would have been no true security— Court Netherleigh is not his, and there exists, of course, just a possi- bility that it may never be his: for he—he is older than its present possessor,” concluded Mr. Grubb, his eyes meeting Miss Upton’s. “No; for what I have lent Lord Acorn, I possess no security, beyond his acknowledgment.” “Ah,” shortly commented Miss Upton. “I told you once, you know, that you were safe in letting him borrow money on the Nether- leigh estate. But I did not mean to imply that I sanctioned your doing so ; certainly not to help him to any extent.” ‘“‘T have not helped him to any great extent. At least, not to more than I can afford to lose with equanimity. I have never advanced to him a sum, large or small, but in the full consciousness that it would probably never be returned.” Miss Upton nodded her approval, and passed to another topic. “Will you tell me how your mother is?” she asked. ‘‘I hear she is so ill as to be in danger, and that you have been afraid to leave her.” ‘She was in danger three or four days ago, and I was sent for in haste. But the danger has passed, and she is tolerably well again— save for weakness. My mother has had several of these attacks now, and it seems to me that each one is more severe than the last. ‘They are connected with the heart.” ‘““ Ay, we must all have some affliction or other as we draw near to the close of life; some reminder, more or less ominous in itself, that God will soon be calling us to that better world where there 1s neither sickness nor death,” she remarked dreamily. ‘‘She is going —and I am going—and yet ———” ‘Not you, surely, dear Miss Upton!” he interrupted, struck with the words. She looked at him for a moment, saw his concern, and smiled. ‘Are we not all going?” she asked—‘‘some sooner, some later. And yet, I was about to say, what a short time ago it seems since I CONNICLOOKS.EO An