The Argosy — page 262: what you’re looking at

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

Court Netherleigh. 245 was to do this and that to it. ‘And to whom am I to leave it?’ [ said to him in turn, feeling greatly perplexed ; ‘I shall not know what to do with it.’ ‘That is chiefly what I want to talk to you about, he answered. ‘Perhaps you will marry, and have a son ae INO; Uncle Francis, I shall never marry—never!’ I interrupted. For I had had my little romance in early life,” broke off Miss Margery, looking at the Rector, ‘‘and that kind of thing had closed for me. You have heard something of it, I fancy ?” Mr. Cleveland nodded, and she resumed. “Uncle Francis saw I was in earnest; that no heir to Court Netherleigh would ever spring from me. ‘In that case,’ he said, ‘I must suggest someone else,’ and there he came to a pause. ‘There’s Lord Acorn,’ I ventured to say, ‘ Betsy’s husband; he ’ © Hold your tongue, Margery, unless you can talk better sense!’ he cried out in anger. ‘Could I allow Court Netherleigh to fall into the hands of a spendthrift? If George Acorn came into the property to-morrow, by the end of the year there’d be nothing left of it: every acre would be mortgaged away. I charge you,’ he solemnly added, ‘not to allow George Acorn, or that son of his, little Denne, or any other son he may hereafter have, ever to come into Court Nether- leigh. You understand, Margery, I forbid it. Putting aside Acorn’s spendthrift nature, which would be an insurmountable barrier, and I daresay his son inherits it, I should not care for a peer to own the property ; rather someone who will take the name of Netherleigh, and in whom the baronetcy may perhaps be revived.’ You now see,” added Miss Upton, glancing at the earnest face of the Rector, ‘‘ why I am debarred, even though it had been my wish, from bequeathing Court Netherleigh to Lord Acorn.” *T do, indeed.” “To go back tomy uncle. ‘ Failing children of your own, Margery,’ he continued, ‘there is only one I can name as your successor ; there’s no other person living to name—and that 1s the little son of Catherine Grubb.’ ‘ Uncle Francis!’ I interrupted, in very astonish- ment, ‘Catherine's son!’ ‘Yes; why not?’ he answered. ‘She offended me, but he has not; and I hear, for I have made enquiries through Pencot, that he is a fine noble little lad; and his name, too, is Francis—Pencot has obtained all necessary information. In the years to come, when he shall be a good man—for Pencot tells me no pains are being spared to make him /¢a¢t—perhaps also a great one, he may come here and reign as my successor, a second Sir Francis Netherleigh. In any case he must take the name with the property ; it must be made a condition: do not forget that.’ I pro- mised that I would not forget it, but I could not get over the surprise I felt. This boy was the son of Christopher Grubb; and it was to him, to his calling, so much objection was raised in the family.” “It does appear rather contradictory on the face of it,” agreed Mr. Cleveland. Coniiclooolkks (SO)