The Argosy — page 377: what you’re looking at

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354 The White Witch. * Oh, no; Godfrey is a good fellow ” Ernest was beginning in answer, when the subject of their talk appeared by their side. “What is that about Godfrey ?” he asked, with perfect ingenuous- ness ; not as if he had heard anything. “Oh, nothing that is not complimentary, you may be sure,” laughed Ernest. ‘We were just saying that you were the most active, energetic, amiable te ** Good-tempered,” suggested Miss Dixon, “Ves; and good-tempered young man, within the region of our acquaintance.” “Thank you, my kind friends,” said Godfrey, drily. His appear- ance having disturbed the interest of the talk, Ernest took his leave. Mary was turning to the house when Godfrey stopped her. ** Don’t go in directly, please, Miss Dixon. I want to say some- thing to you.” He spoke carelessly, but he saw the colour rise to her face and then leave it white and wan. “Tt is nothing of any consequence,” he added, more carelessly still. You know last night, when we had all that long and tedious explana- tion in the gallery, exposed to every sort of danger from ghosts and robbers, not to speak of Hawkins—-—by the way, though,” he broke off, ‘I have had Mr. Hawkins before me this morning, and he strenuously denies, in a most injured tone, having been in any passages but his own; so perhaps it was only my fancy, after all.” He said this to reassure her fears—if she had any on the score. But he could see that she was in a fever of anxiety for him to go on with what he had begun. ** Well, when it was over and we had come to the formal reconcilia- tion, do you remember that, to seal the bond, you made me promise not to leave the Abbey ?” iS Ves," ‘‘T want you to let me retract that promise, for I am simply dying to be off and doing something. I cannot any Jonger bear this idle life. I think of going to London, to a relative of ours, of whom you have heard us speak—Abbotsford. He is in the government, and may be able to get me some post that will at least occupy my time and thoughts. I don’t care for pay.” “But I can’t let you retract it, Mr. Godfrey. It was part of our agreement, our act of reconciliation. deed I wish you to stay.” ‘That I may be the target for you and Ernest Underwood to lance your arrows at?” “* No, no, 70,” she repeated, warmly. ‘I want you tostay for my— for my sake. Sometimes a vague dread lies upon me, of some un- known danger, and I have no protector. You spoke last night of your sister Isabel: will you let me be as your sister, in case of need?” Godfrey would not have left the Abbey after that. He took her Eomichbooks.co m