The Argosy — page 260: what you’re looking at

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

Court Netherleigh. 243 “Well, do so. Selina will receive you with open arms. She must be amazingly lonely, shut up in that dreary house from year’s end to year’s end. ‘They see no company.” Grace put her tatting into its little basket, and rose. ‘“ But are you sure you shall not feel dull at being left, Aunt Margery?” she stayed to ask. ‘‘T never feel dull, Grace.” Barely had Grace started on her walk when the maid came to the dressing-room to say the Rector had called. ‘‘ Will you see him, Miss Margery ?” she inquired. ‘Ves, Annis, I wish to see him,” was Miss Upton’s reply; as she rose from her recumbent position on the sofa and sat down upon it. Ann folded a gray chenille shawl over her mistress’s knees, put a footstool under her feet, and sent Mr. Cleveland up. After a short while given to subjects of more vital importance, Miss Upton began to talk of her worldly affairs, induced to it pos- sibly by a question of the Rector’s, as to whether all things were settled. “You mean my will, I suppose,” she answered, slightly smiling. ‘Ves, it is settled and done with. Will you be surprised to hear that I made my will within a month of coming into this estate, and that it has never been altered ?” ‘“Indeed!” he remarked. ‘“‘T added a codicil to it last year, specifying the legacies I wish to. bequeath; but the substance of the will, with its bequest, Court Netherleigh, remains unchanged.” Mr. Cleveland opened his lips to speak, and closed them again. In the impulse of the moment he was about to say “To whom have you left it?” But he remembered that it was a question he could net properly put. “You were about to ask me who it is that will inherit this pro- perty, and you do not like to do so,” she said, nodding to him plea- santly. ‘* Well, it ——” ‘““T beg your pardon for it,” he interrupted. ‘The thought did arise to me, and I nearly forgot myself.” | “And very natural that it should arise to you. I am about to tell you all about it. JI meant to do so before my death: as well now as: any other time.” “Ts it Lord Acorn P” ‘““No, that it is not,” she replied, in a quick decisive tone, as if the very suggestion did not please her. ‘“ Lord Acorn and his wife have chosen to entertain the notion; though they have not had any war- ranty for it from me, but the contrary ; understand me, please, the contrary. Court Netherleigh 1 is willed to Francis Grubb.” Mr. Cleveland’s surprise was so great that for the moment he could only gaze at the speaker. He doubted if he heard correctly. ‘To Francis Grubb !” he exclaimed, COMM (-) lNOOKS. EO