The Argosy — page 187: what you’re looking at

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

172 Court Netherleigh. and Catherine Grant were girls together; dear friends and companions! How much I should lke to see her!” “Would you really hke to do so? Would you care to go to Black- heath ?” “Ay, I should. But I don’t know how to get there. When one comes to be hard upon sixty years of age, and not strong, these short railway journeys try one mightily. I know they try me.” ‘Dear Miss Upton, you can go to Blackheath without the slightest exertion or trouble. My carriage will take you to my mother’s door, and bring you back to this. Shall it do so?” “Without trouble, you say ?” “Certainly. What trouble can there be?” “Then I will go this afternoon. No time like the present. I had meant to do two or three errands for myself, and told the fly to be here at three o’clock, but Annis can do them for me.” “The carriage shall be here instead. Will you have it open or shut?” “Open to go. Closed to return, if it be at all late. Catherine and I will have a great deal to say to each other; once we meet, we shall not be in haste to part. ‘That is, if she does not cherish too much resent- ment to speak to me at all. Of course you will accompany me?” “ Of course I will,” he answered: and hastened away to give the | necessary orders. Not to his house; he did not go near that; and did not intend to, until fully assured that Lady Adela had left it; he went direct to the stables. At three o’clock the carriage stood before the door of the hotel. Its master stood waiting, and Miss Upton came out, followed by her maid Annis, who was departing to do the errands. Mr, Grubb handed in Miss Upton, and they drove to Blackheath. *¢ Catherine !” ‘“ Margery !” The names simultaneously broke from their lips when the early friends met; they who had lived estranged for the better part of their lives. Mrs. Lynn was in what she called her invalid’s sitting-room, one that opened from her bed-chamber and which she occupied when she was too ill to go downstairs. She was lying on a sofa by the open window—from which window there was to be seen so fair a landscape —but she rose when Miss Upton entered. They sat down on the sofa side by side, hand clasping hand. Grievances were forgotten, estrangement was at an end. Miss Upton had taken off her bonnet and mantle, and looked as much at home as though she had lived there for years. ‘They fell to talking of the old days. Francis stayed below with his sister, ‘“T did not think to see you again, Margery, on this side the grave,” spoke Mrs. Lynn. ‘Not so very long ago, I should have declined a visit from you had you proffered it. Only when sickness has tamed the spirit do we put aside animosities,” CONNIE DOO KS (E(@)