The Argosy — page 285: what you’re looking at

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

260 The White Witch. “T am come to ask if you can give me Miss Dixon’s present address,” said Godfrey. ‘‘I have been ill since I left Croxham, and have not been able to go out. My father, from whom I heard this morning, does not mention in his letter where she is staying, though he has charged me with some messages for her. So, knowing your name as one of her trustees, I have ventured to call, to ask if you would be kind enough to help me.’ “IT am sorry to say that is not in my power,” said the little man. ‘‘Croxham Abbey is the only address I have.” Godfrey’s penetration was seldom at fault where Mary was con- cerned. He knew, while the solicitor answered him in the frankest manner, that there was some clue to be had here, if he could only get hold of it. “T am sorry to have troubled you to no purpose,” said he. ‘¢ Mary always spoke of you with so much respect and confidence as a friend of her father’s, that I thought she would be sure to have called on you.” The piercing grey eyes looked at him, and dropped on to the blotting-paper on which Mr. Thorn was busily drawing fantastic things with a dry pen. “T will tell you frankly why I am so anxious to see her,” con- tinued Godfrey, pulling his moustache. ‘I have reason to believe she is in trouble about—about something; and that she may be hiding from some of her friends. I know she has money of her own, but I fear it may not be adequate to her present needs. ‘The marriage of her mother with my father enables me to stand, as may be said, in the relation of a brother to her. I, therefore, hope she would have no scruple in allowing me to help her out of any difficulty she might be in.” He spoke very quietly, but his soul shone through his grey eyes and made his grave words eloquent and pleading. The lawyer read him like a book, with sympathy as well as intelligence. Mary had, indeed, called upon him the day after her arrival in town, and had let fall a few words about this young fellow which had given the lawyer a key to understanding him. “You are not, I believe, aware of the full extent of that difficulty, or even of its nature, Mr. Mayne?” said he, gravely. ‘No, I am not,” frankly replied Godfrey. ‘‘ And if only I could get her out of it, I assure you I should not much care what its nature was.” “T will tell you this much: that no amount of money could help her out of it, nor any effort of yours, or indeed, of any man’s, Except, perhaps, one,” he added, rather grimly. “ But at least money can make life easier; and she has been accustomed always to the comforts it gives.” ‘‘ Are you aware to what purpose your money would be applied?” interrupted Mr, Thorn. Gomichoo (elo) m