The Argosy — page 269: what you’re looking at

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

244 The White Witch. Mary, now on her way to the cart, arrested her steps, and turned. ‘Except Mr. Godfrey—should he ask,” she whispered. ‘Tell him that I am gone away to where I shall be protected and sheltered.” The next moment, Mary was hidden from observation under the cover of the cart, and Ben was rattling it along the lane on its road to Cheston Station. This was the information that Nancy now disclosed to Godfrey. “Thank you, Nancy,” he quietly said : and went back indoors as quickly as he was able. He must follow Mary to the station, and go up with her to London, to be her protector on the journey. A fond thought (though not a very likely one) took possession of him—that she was probably gone to take refuge with his aunt, Mrs. Penteith, He remembered how, a day or two ago, she had thanked him for suggesting it. In two minutes he was ready for the j journey, € even to his overcoat, which he put on. To walk to Cheston station in time to catch the five o’clock up-train, would have been nothing to Godfrey a short while ago, but he knew that he could not do it now. He was feeling sick and giddy already from pain and exhaustion, and made for the stables, hoping, praying that some horse, some vehicle might be there, and one of the grooms to make ready and drive it. His head was becoming curiously confused. His own horse was in the stable, his dog- cart in its place in the coach house; but never a groom could he see. Not a sign of man anywhere. Steadying himself for a short interval against the wall to gather strength, Godfrey was proceeding to the task of harnessing the horse himself, when the brougham drove slowly into the yard, after leaving Mr. and Mrs. Mayne at the Abbey. ) ‘‘ Barth,” said Godfrey, appearing before the astonished coachman, ‘I have business at Chestcn station. Drive me to it at the top of your speed, or I may be too late. Don’t spare your horses.” Barth turned his horses round, noticing that his young master reeled from weakness as he got into the carriage, and drove off, indulging his amazement, It was some minutes before Mr. Mayne’s anger, at finding his house in possession of the police, allowed him to understand or even listen to the inspector, who at last induced him to give him a private interview. But Mrs. Mayne, whose presence, as she stood without speaking by her husband’s side since their entrance, had prevented the man from explaining his business promptly, now interfered, and in a hoarse whisper begged him and her husband to let her know the truth of the matter at once. Mr. Mayne, returning to his senses a little, would not hear of this ; but, giving her fussily in charge of Mrs. Garner, he went with the police-inspector into the library. ‘‘ Now, what is all this confounded nonsense ?” asked he, as soon as he had settled himself judicially in his chair, Eomichbooks.co