The Argosy — page 251: what you’re looking at

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

234 In Half an Hour. betrayed a degree of shyness. She felt, indeed, that she ought to speak, but eventually it was Mr. O’Hagan who took the initiative. “You seem delightfully situated here,” he said. ‘ Have you lived in this place always ?” “Yes ; it belongs to Bob, my brother,” replied Missy, briefly. “Then you are Missy, of whom I have often heard ?” “Ves, I am Missy. And you are Norah’s eldest brother, the | barrister, of whom J have often heard.” ‘Why have Norah and your brother gone away without you?” asked Mr. O’Hagan, abruptly. “T do not know,” returned Missy. “But you must know,” said Mr. O’Hagan, in a tone of gentle authority. ‘Norah is your guest, and it is not usual for young ladies to go about alone with their friends’ brothers.” ‘Norah is doing nothing unusual,” cried Missy, flushing angrily, for, though she was very unhappy, she did not choose that Mr. ©’Hagan should find fault. ‘Bob is Norah’s owmz friend, and Aunt Caroline sees no harm in anything they do. They are very fond of each other.” “¢So it would appear,” said Mr. O’Hagan, drily. He was somewhat annoyed. He had received an ambiguous letter from his sister that morning, which had made him think it advisable he should try and find out what she was doing, and now he had come to try, and she had vanished. But she had left a substitute, and to this substitute, after a moment’s pause, Mr. O’Hagan turned. ‘You must be very glad,” he said, “that your friend and your brother are such allies. Is he your only brother?” “Yes,” replied Missy, with a profound sigh. ‘‘ Bob is my only brother, and Norah is my only friend. But I am not very glad they are such friends. They like to play chess, and that is a game that three cannot play; and they like to drive in the dog-cart, and only two can sit in front.” *“And now they like to go alone into the wood?” suggested Mr. O’ Hagan. ‘Ves, it is a preserve, you know, and Bob thought it would disturb the pheasants if three people went through talking; but he said he and Norah would walk along quietly, and speak very softly.” “Oh!” said Mr. O’Hagan, with a lengthened intonation. ** Why do you say Of like that?” cried Missy, pettishly. She felt glad that Bob was not like Norah’s brother, who was so old—thirty, at the very least, he must be—and who asked such strange questions, and made such singular ejaculations. ‘Miss Missy—May I call you Miss Missy?” asked Mr. O'Hagan gravely. ‘Just as you like,” she said, indifferently. “Very well then,” he proceeded. ‘ Miss Missy, I want evidence upon a certain matter. ‘The swing is the witness-box, and you are Gomicbooks,com