The Argosy — page 267: what you’re looking at

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

250 The White Witch. have not heard anything of him before ?” she enquired of Mr. Mayne in a pretty, saucy manner. ‘“‘ Because, Miss Inquisitive, he has been away; as he generally is. He has a place on the other side of Cheston—Goule Park. He never stays there long now, and will be off again soon, no doubt.” “Dear me!” cried Mary. ‘ Does he not like his neighbours ? ” ‘Sir William’s neighbours have nothing to do with it, young lady. He has a little frivolous wife—as frivolous as you are—who won’t let him rest there. She hates Goule Park; calls it the family vault. She used to love it just as much as she dislikes it now; but since a dreadful event happened, the news of which was brought to her there - ‘‘ And where do they live when they are not at Goule ?” interrupted Mary. ‘I think she is quite right not to let her husband stay there if she doesn’t like the place herself.” ‘Quite right to drag her husband away from it as soon as he is peacefully settled down there! Oh, Mary, a fine wife you'll make! Don’t you come to me for a character.” ‘Of course not, sir. I shall apply to—to Dick. Where do they live, though, when they are not at Goule Park ?” “Chiefly in Scotland. Sir William has a fine old place there.” But to Godfrey, her unusual animation seemed rather forced: he was not sure, though, whether this was fact or fancy. In the course of the morning, Ernest Underwood came in, attired in the fashion as usual. He invited Mary to a drive in his dog-cart. “You know you enjoyed that drive when I brought you home, Miss Dixon,” urged the young man ; “and you know how carefully I drive.” ‘““Oh yes; and I remember finding myself suddenly jerked up a foot or so, when your horse shied at that red cart and sent the wheel on to the path,” said Mary. ‘“ But I did that on purpose. I knew you liked a little excitement. You wouldn’t have me jog you quietly along as if you were—were an old lady, would you ?” “ Well, you will hardly believe I can be so mean-spirited, but I do really set as high a value on my life as if I were sixty.” “No! Do you mean it?” cried Ernest, with mock seriousness. ‘Now, I had intended to ask leave to give you a little treat. We have just got a new pair of chestnuts, one of which has not been properly broken in. I drove them tandem into Cheston the other day, and we killed a dog, and overturned a market-stall, and frightened a flock of sheep, and backed into a shop- -window—and I had to pay fora new one. Now I did mean to try to get you with me when I drive them the second time.” ‘Dear me! How I should have liked to go, Mr. Ernest! Only— mamma would not let me, you know.” Thus they kept on, angering Godfrey. He began to hate Ernest Gomichbooks (elo) m