The Argosy — page 354: what you’re looking at

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

The White Witch. 331 with wild conjectures and misgivings, and he heard not a word of the lecture. Mary returned to her mother’s dressing-room as the carriage drove away. It was a little room opening from the bed-chamber, used by Mrs. Mayne as a sitting, or working-room, not as a dressing-room, though called so. ‘“‘ Mary,” she faltered, as her daughter entered, ‘‘ what is to be done? I cannot think what will become of us. Suppose Sir William gets talking about the past this evening ?” *‘ And if he does !” cheerfully replied the girl, who believed it to be her duty above all things to comfort her sorrowing mother. “It will not affect us—it will not afford any clue to the past.” ** One can never be sure,” moaned Mrs. Mayne. ‘ My whole life is one prolonged torment from fright, since I knew Sir William’s place was in this neighbourhood. He would not recognise you, I suppose ; but he would me. Good heavens, what is to be done?” “Well, mamma, you must endeavour to keep out of his sight while they are in the neighbourhood. In a short time he and Lady Hunt leave again, and then all danger will be over.” “For the present ; only for the present. Oh, my child, what will become of me? [I shall never know peace again.” You may know it better than I shall,” thought Mary, sadly. ‘Sir William might recognise your singing ; take care of that,” said Mrs. Mayne. “He heard it, you know, that day “s “Yes, I know,” interrupted Mary, with a shiver. ‘‘ Mamma, Ishall not be likely to sing where he can hear me.” “You must never sing again,” cried Mrs, Mayne, almost fiercely in her eagerness. ‘‘It was most imprudent to sing to Godfrey. To let him know that you have such a voice.” “TI don’t see why. He will not talk of it. JI dare say I shall not sing to han again. And now, mamma, I shall tell Lydia to bring you some tea, while I go and take off this grand dress. After that I will read to you, and we will spend a pleasant evening together.” In all this there had been an assumption of lightness in the girl, which was perhaps a little overdone. It struck Mrs. Mayne so, and she caught Mary’s hand to detain her. “Mary, what is it? All day long you have put on a carelessness of speech and manner, done, I am sure, to hide some special anxiety and restlessness. Has anything happened that I don’t know of? One would say you went in more than ordinary fear.” Very rapidly a flush passed over Mary’s face, leaving it paler than before. But she smiled as if she were at ease. ** How observant you are growing, mamma! _ There’s nothing. Truth to say, I had last night a—a very disagreeable dream, and I can’t forget it.” “A dream! That we had been tracked at last?” “Worse than that.” EONMIE OO KS (EO) m