The Argosy — page 33: what you’re looking at

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18 The White Witch. She was white and trembling; and as Godfrey looked up, be- wildered and amazed by the dread with which his words had filled her, he struggled to conquer his own emotion. | ‘IT did not mean to frighten you,” said he at last. ‘I am excited to-night, I think, and not quite master of myself. I will not talk— like this again. I would not willingly have given you pain: I think you know that.” He was subdued now, and he began to put on his glove. She got up and walked quickly towards the door. Godfrey followed, but as he did so he caught sight once more of a face outside, peering through the plants and the steaming glass; no eyes that were not keen and well on the alert would have seen it at all; but Godfrey’s attention was alive that night. He knew that there was a spy at work, watching. Was he watching Mary Dixon? At the door she turned to him impulsively ; her tone was softer than her words: “Mr. Godfrey, I have been hard to you, but I cannot help it. I am sorry, for you have been very kind to me.” He drew her arm through his with some incoherent commonplace, to take her to Mrs. Underwood. “Now, will you do something that I want you to do, Mr. Godfrey ?” ‘ Anything. You know that,” said he in a low voice. ‘Go and make your peace with Mrs. Thornhill, and devote yourself for the rest of the evening to Elspeth.” He gave her a sharp look of reproach. Then “ All right,” said he after a moment’s pause.’ But there was just one point on which he felt he must be satisfied first. Giving up Mary to a partner, finding Elspeth and engaging her for the next dance but one, Godfrey went out by the front door, so that the man who was watching might not see him coming, He wanted to discover who it really was, and so set that suspicion, which he had caught up, at rest one way or the other. Stealthily making his way round to the conservatory, the figure of a man, standing there to peep in, was plainly to be seen. He heard Godfrey’s steps, took alarm, disappeared among the evergreens, and tore away round to the back of the house. Godfrey gave chase, and caught his man crouched behind the water-butt. “You let me alone, sir. Who is it? I wasn’t doing nothing,” said a lad’s voice, which Godfrey thought he knew. “Who the deuce are you?” cried Godfrey, angrily. ‘‘l’m only Dod, sir, one of the grooms. Why, it’s—it’s young Mr. Mayne, I do believe!” added the speaker, straightening himself in amazement. Godfrey, in disgust, put his hand in his pocket. ‘* Please sir, I was only peeping in to have a look at the company and the dancing: and I humbly ask your pardon, sir; but I thought it was the butler after me. I’m sure I meant no harm.” Eomicbooks.co