The Argosy — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

14 Winifred Power. not tend to put him in a better humour; on the contrary, it increased the vague feeling of irritation against her that he had been con- scious of for weeks. John had hardly left the house, when Mary appeared. Her break- fast and letters were always taken up to her, and she did not generally come down until late. But on this occasion she had seemingly been only waitmg for her brother’s departure to descend. She was look- ing pale yet exultant, and her eyes were bright with excitement. “Patty,” she began, with the charming grace that she displayed at times, and that her cousin always found irresistible, ‘‘tell me, did John seem annoyed by anything this morning ?” Martha was fain to admit that he did: and by dint of further questioning, Mary elicited the fact that it was a letter which had caused it. ‘* Patty, I want you to do me a favour,” she said, later in the day. ‘“’ Anything you like, darling,” replied her fervid and incautious slave. ‘‘T wonder if I can trust you,” continued Mary, contemplating her reflectively. ‘‘ You make dreadful blunders sometimes, Patty.” Martha, oppressed by the consciousness of her stupidity, had nothing to say. ‘‘T must risk it,” said Mary, lowering her voice, confidentially. “I want you to go to the Post Office the day after to-morrow, and get a letter that will be lying there addressed to “X. Y. Z.” You must bring it direct to me.” Mary had expected eager compliance, and was surprised to see no sign of it, but be met by silence. ‘‘ Well?” she exclaimed, im- patiently. Martha’s face presented a study of conteading emotions. ‘This was the second time that Mary had made a request to her which she found it difficult to grant. She feared, her secret knowledge render- ing her imaginative, that some trap was being laid for John, and to - that she could not bea party. ‘‘This which you beg of me to do, 1s it anything unworthy ?” she asked, shrinking from the question, even while she uttered it, because loth to hint at the shadow of evil in connection with Mary Hatherley. That young lady became rather red, but also rather angry. ‘‘Vou are so absurd of late,” she exclaimed. ‘‘ Of course it is nothing unworthy. Only a little piece of poetical justice; fun, in fact. I—that is—a friend of mine and myself, we wish to give my saintly brother a fright.” Martha looked grave. ‘‘ You must tell me more.” “To tell you would spoil the whole,” said Mary petulantly. “If you don’t go, I shall send some one else, and then there is no knowing what mischief may ensue. Any stranger sent on such an errand would think that some important secret 1s concerned, and might open the letter. He would talk: and only imagine the effect of such talking in Marleyford !” Gomichbooksneom