The Argosy — page 359: what you’re looking at

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336 The White Witch. promise), and trust to time and the reassurance it would bring to gain her full confidence, and would defend and comfort her. She might find the whole world hard and cruel, but not him. And—if the worst came to the worst; if he found that she could indeed be no fit wife for him, that the past raised up an insuperable barrier, why he would still do his best to protect, and shield her from the frowns of the world—as he would by some poor young relative of his own who might need it. And Godfrey’s heart glowed within him at the thought only of having this girl to love as a sister, and to ward off evil from always. He forgot Elspeth altogether ; he forgot his dear old father, quietly dreaming by his side: just then the whole world contained but him and her. The carriage rolled up to the door of the Abbey. William opened the door and let down the steps. Godfrey got out, and turned to help his father. Hawkins had the hall door open. “There, go on, go on, Godfrey,” said Mr. Mayne, sleepily: “I want to speak to Barth about the horses.” Mary came running down stairs and across the hall to welcome them, and almost ran against Godfrey, who was rushing in like a whirlwind. She had taken off her dinner-dress, and put ona simpler one of pale pink cashmere. ‘‘T hope you have spent a pleasant evening,” said she gaily, “and are come back ready to tell us all about it.” “Oh, very pleasant indeed!” answered Godfrey. “No,” he added, in a different tone: ‘it was intensely dull.” “Dull! What was Lady Hunt about to allowit to be dull? Was she very much annoyed with poor mamma for not going? I hope not. It was foolish of her to be so fanciful ; I told herso: butshe is always alarmed at thunder.” “Ts she?” mechanically returned Godfrey, deep in various items of thought. Mr. Mayne was coming in at the moment. Mary passed Godfrey, and took his hand. “Well, you naughty girl,” said Mr. Mayne, not quite sure yet whether he was only sleepy, or just a little cross as well. ‘“‘And so you can look quite cheerful and happy, when you have been the means of spoiling a whole evening’s entertainment for a number of people.” “Oh, don’t say that; it is very unkind to me; you don’t mean it, I’m quite sure,” said she, coaxingly. ‘‘ You know I did my best to persuade her to go, and it was not my fault that I failed.” “ But you ought to have come yourself. Lady Hunt said so.” “No doubt Miss Dixon had good reasons for not wishing to come,” said Godfrey, carelessly, from the hat-stand. It was the last thing he ought to have said, if he intended to carry out his programme of storming Miss Dixon’s confidence ; but the coolness with which she Gomichbooks (elo) m