The Argosy — page 190: what you’re looking at

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

The White Witch. 175 Ves, I do,” said she quickly, without looking at him. ‘“ My mother and I were talking about it only this afternoon when I got home.” Godfrey started ; but she did not seem to notice him. “I ought never to go out, never to excite myself in any way, if I am to be safe. But what is the good of life without enjoyment of any kind?” she went on more quickly, more restlessly. ‘‘ Better be happy a little while, and let my heart stop suddenly at a dance or a race-meeting, than go on sleeping through the days drearily.” “Tt is your heart?” whispered Godfrey. “Yes, it is that, I believe. But do not say anything about it, please. I would not have Mr. Mayne know.” “TI will not speak of it,” he answered. ‘‘ Was this the cause of your looking so very white when you first came here ?” *“No. Well—perhaps yes, partly. I had a fever between two and three years ago, and I lost my colour in it. It had come back, however, when last spring I was again ill, and again lost it. My natural complexion is bright and fresh.” “Tam very, very sorry to hear this,” said Godfrey, after a pause. * Should you not consult a doctor ?” Oh, I have done that. They cannot do me any real good,” she added, with growing excitement. ‘Let us go in.” With a tenderness of which she had not thought the sometimes brusque young man capable, he drew her shawl more closely round her and managed to fasten it to her shoulder with the little gold stud out of gne of his cuffs. He drew her arm through his to help her slowly up the hill, would not let her walk upon the damp grass, and told her not to talk in the night air. This last command she obeyed willingly ; the power of speech seemed to have left her; she walked with drooping head and downcast eyes, keeping silence. When they neared the house, Godfrey suggested going round by the garden and through the refectory, if she was not too tired. _She answered quickly and shyly that she was not. So they went through the garden, and when they passed the window close to which Godfrey had played eavesdropper that afternoon, he saw the silent witness to his wrong-doing in a broken geranium, a trodden-down verbena, and two big foot-prints in the well-watered mould. He felt very much ashamed of himself as he looked, and he wondered that Miss Dixon, whom he saw glancing that way, did not make some remark about such unwonted havoc in the well-kept garden. But she seemed to wish to hasten in. Indeed, she scarcely waited at the door to shake hands with him before, with head down in a strangely shamefaced way, she ran into the house, not allowing him to utter the words of warm kindness which were on his lips. Godfrey leant out of one of the refectory windows, his thoughts in a tumult. Pity for her, remorse for his own past rudeness, en- thusiasm about her face, shame at his hard thoughts of her, were uppermost at first. Then came wonder at her sudden change of EONNIE OOO KS (EO) m