The Argosy — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

8 The White Witch. “Well then, I’ll get it mended for you.” And he slipped it into his pocket. She got up restlessly, without paying him much attention, and again complained that it was warm. ‘I think I must take a little stroll before I go upstairs,” said she. ‘‘ You have been chattering so much that I haven’t had a minute’s peace this evening.” “Yes, you have—while I was talking to Nancy. You are sotired that you can scarcely stand, and if you go out I shall go with you.” She did not object : perhaps she thought to do so would be useless. It was an uncertain night, now light, now dark, the moon chiefly hiding herself behind dense clouds. They went through the planta- tion and down the lane together. She was so much exhausted by the emotions of the day that she was glad of his arm to lean upon; but when they got opposite the stables she asked him to do some- thing. Was it to get rid of him? ‘T wish you would go and see if I left mamma’s card-case in the pocket of the brougham yesterday. She could not find itto-day. It won't take you more than a minute.” It did not take more. For when Godfrey got there, the groom chanced to be unlocking the coach-house door, and he was in and out in no time. He could not see Mary: she must have walked on past a bend in the lane. As he ran to rejoin her, his footsteps sounding sharply on the hard, dry road, he saw someone quit her, or pass her, and disappear over a stile. He thought it looked like the artist. ‘Did that man frighten you? You are shaking all over.” ‘He didn’t mean to. But I turned round quickly, thinking it was you ; and seeing a stranger, it rather startled me,” ‘But he was coming the other way—this way !” “J don’t know how it was. I am nervous to-day. You know why.” He drew her hand through his arm, with a pang of compassion, and led her back to the Abbey without another question. Jt was getting late, and she bade him good-night and went up to her mother’s room ; while Godfrey smoked a cigar in the refectory, and grew soft and silly over his precious prize, a broken bracelet. Shortly, he went upstairs himself ; left his candle in his room, and then paced quietly along the gallery, towards the window at which he had stood with Mary the previous night. At that moment the moon was under a cloud again, and the gallery was in darkness. Ashe passed the back staircase, which was nearly opposite the schoolroom door, he fancied he heard the faint sound of a sharply-drawn breath. He whispered quickly, ‘‘ Who is that,” and put out his hand. It touched a face. He pulled out his cigar-lights and struck one. It was Mary Dixon. She stood cowering against the wall in terror, her face white. ‘My poor child !—what has happened ?” he exclaimed. Gomicbooks (E(@)