The Argosy — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

100 The White Witch. geranium and some mignonette; then he returned to the hall and waited for her till the church-bells had ceased. Concluding that she had started, he went off to the church by himself, glanced down the ranks of the school-children without seeing her, and marched up to the Abbey pew. His father was there alone, in his seat at the out- side end of the pew. Godfrey went in hesitatingly. ‘‘ Where is Mary?” he whispered, as soon as they stood up. ‘¢ She said she was not coming this afternoon,” replied Mr. Mayne. Godfrey instantly grew inattentive, fidgetted, and then disturbed everybody near by upsetting all the books in front of him with one sweep on to the floor. His father, scandalised, stared at him. ‘“‘ Godfrey, if you feel faint again, you had better go out.” This was merely meant as a hint for him to conduct himself properly ; but Godfrey instantly seized his hat, squeezed past his indignant father, went out of the pew, down the aisle, and through the porch, to the gaping surprise of the congregation. He was back at the Abbey in a few moments, and had searched the house for her, knocking and calling at the different doors. Last he went to that of Mrs. Mayne. ‘Who is it ?” said the voice of his step-mother. ‘‘Tt is I,” replied Godfrey. ‘‘ May I come in ?” ‘‘Not now,” came the quick answer. ‘I want to sleep if I can.” ‘Ts Mary here P” ‘Yes, she is here ”—-—after a brief pause. ‘‘ Don’t tease her now, Godfrey, she is tired.” And Godfrey knew as well as if he had been in the room that Mary was not there. A presentiment flashed over him that she had gone to the farm to hold another interview with that man, With a furious step, Godfrey strode thither. He saw nobody about but a little girl, Mrs. Wilding’s niece, who had come on a visit. ‘‘ Are they all out, Susan ?” ‘Ves, sir; they are all gone to church,” ‘‘ And Mr. Cattermole—where is he ?” ‘‘ He went out, too, sir; just after the others.” ‘Can you tell me which way he went? _ I want to know.” ‘No, sir,” hesitated Susan. Of course she knew, having watched him from behind the muslin blind. ‘‘Now what a pity that is! I’ve got a shilling, that is burning a hole in my pocket, for anybody that can tell me.” ‘‘He went that way, sir; right out at the gate and along the lane to the left.” ‘‘Godfrey gave her the shilling, and was in the lane in a moment, hurrying up it into the plantation. He glanced to right and left, and listened as he walked. The place was so thickly wooded as to make search difficult ; but presently he saw them coming along towards him, walking slowly side by side. Godfrey drew back among the trees, so as not to be seen. Mary wore a bonnet and veil, anda shawl GEomicbooks.co mn