The Argosy — page 282: what you’re looking at

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

The White Witch. 257 “Yes, when I can,” he answered. ‘It may cost time to do it, though. She has taken from me every hope and interest I possessed in life.” He went out of the room as he spoke, carrying with him his pain and anguish. It was portrayed unmistakeably on his countenance, and Mrs. Penteith’s heart ached as she gazed after him. “Tf I could but restore him to happiness!” she sighed passion- ately; ‘“‘he does not deserve to have been rendered miserable. What about the girl ?” When Godfrey came back to the boudoir, it was empty; his aunt had gone downstairs. He drew the easy chair before the fire, and sat down in dreary apathy. He could hear the front-door bell from time to time, and his aunt’s voice below, and the footsteps of the servants going about the house, but nothing to rouse or to disturb him. Presently, however, he turned his head sharply and looked round the room as if in search of something ; then he looked back at the fire as vacantly as before. But a minute later he raised his head and listened, with an eager, hungry look in his eyes. There was nothing to hear but Dunning’s sharp voice on the stairs. He sprang up, however, restless and excited, and was at the door when it opened and Dunning came in with beef-tea and toast upon a tray. ‘Now what is the good of our wearing ourselves to skin-and-bone nursing you, Master Godfrey, if you can’t be left to yourself five minutes but you must be pottering about and trying to get your knee inflamed again?” cried she. ‘‘I knew what it would be if we let you get up! You sit down there, sir, and eat this, and don’t let me catch you walking about again.” He obeyed meekly, but spoke as he sat down. “I say, Dunning, didn’t I hear the front-door bell just now ?” “‘T dare say you did; it’s been going all the morning. The people Mrs. Penteith helps for Lady Ann come on a Wednesday morning. Some of ’em are gentle-folks who’ve seen better days.” * But just now, that last ring: who came in then ?” “Oh, that was a young lady ; a stranger.” “A stranger!” he cried excitedly, springing up and spilling his beef-tea. ‘‘ Good gracious, what’s the matter ?” exclaimed Dunning. ** But who was it? Did you hear the name?” “Yes, I did, and the name was Davenant,” said Dunning. “A Miss Davenant ; come about the Home Mission.” Godfrey sat down again, disappointed, and stared into the fire. Dunning stood over him to watch the consumption of the beef-tea ; which Godfrey took ; and then, finding he was not in a fit state to receive a word in season, she left the room with the empty cup and tray, sighing over his unregenerate state. “Desperately wicked of him!” pronounced Dunning. “ And all, VOL, XXXVIII S Gomichoo (E(@) m