The Argosy — page 121: what you’re looking at

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104 The White Witch. ‘“T think,” said Mrs. Mayne, whose hands were quivering nervously, * that Mary ought to go.” ‘* And I think,” said her husband, growing really angry, ‘‘ that you are both talking undutiful nonsense. I have made up my mind: and pray let no more be said about it.” When Godfrey went to the drawing-room after dinner, only Mary was there. She, as if anxious to escape his watchful eyes, turned to leave it. ‘‘T am tired, and going to my room,” she said, by way of excuse. * You had better stay here,’ said Godfrey. ‘*A man is coming to do some work in the schoolroom, and the noise would disturb you.” “What man? What work?” she asked, with a start of surprise. ‘Ben Griffiths is going to put some bars before the window, so that Dick may not frighten you again.” ‘But I thought all that was mended on Friday.” “Not to my satisfaction,” replied Godfrey. ‘‘ When I looked at it to-day, I saw that a strong arm and hand could undo, without much difficulty, what has been done. So I have told Ben to bring up a couple of iron bars.” Even as he spoke, Hawkins came to say Ben was there. Godfrey went to the schoolroom, and watched him at his work. “Tt would take more than an idiot to get over those,” he remarked, when it was nearly over. ‘Ves, sir,” said the lad, and looked at him shrewdly. “You heard all about the business, of course,” said Godfrey, wondering what the thought was that caused the twinkle in Ben’s keen, grey eyes. ‘© Oh, yes, sir.” ‘What do they say of this outbreak of Master Dick’s in the village ?” “They say a good many things in the village just now, sir, since it’s been known there was a detective about.” ** A detective !” exclaimed Godfrey. ‘And who is he after?” ** Don’t know, I’m sure, sir.” Godfrey regarded the shrewd young Northerner, popularly sup- posed to have the makings in him of a great rascal. ‘‘ Are you quite sure you don’t, Ben?” ‘Well, they do say that we ought to know more about it at this end of the parish than they do at the other. But that’s all, sir.” “A cock-and-bull tale, I expect, Ben? Who knows him? De- tectives don’t go about with a label on their back.” “No, sir. But Jo Longton, who is porter at Cheston Station now, and was before that at Rigby, says this same man, as he’s a’most sure it is, came there twelve months ago after a chap who was wanted.” Leaving Ben to complete his job, Godfrey went back to the drawing-room. Mary was not there. Restless and uneasy, as he Gomicbooks.co