The Argosy — page 39: what you’re looking at

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24 The White Witch. and carried the key of the door with him. Mother said she thought he must be going to take sketches by moonlight.” “What time did he comein? /s he come in?” added Godfrey. ‘‘ He came in, but I can’t tell you what time it was, Master God- frey. I had been asleep when I heard him come creeping up the stairs and go along the passage to his room; and I have been asleep again since.” “Tt was he with Sir William, sure enough,” mentally decided Godfrey. ‘‘ Thank you, Nancy,” he said; ‘I’m sorry to have disturbed you. By the way, what was it that you came to the window to look for? Mee” ‘None of your nonsense, Master Godfrey. It was Dick. I am so uneasy about him after what he did last night at the Abbey, that I can’t sleep soundly as usual; the least noise startles me and I’m wide awake ina moment. Father gave hima good stroke or two . this morning, and mother and I have talked to him; but, to tell you the truth, sir, we can’t feel sure of him: poor Dick’s reason is not like other people’s, you know. So, hearing your footsteps just now, Master Godfrey, I was afraid they were Dick’s—afraid he might have got out again.” “What could have moved him to play up that prank last night, I wonder ?” cried Godfrey. “T can’t imagine what,” replied the young woman energetically. © ‘The more I’ve tried to get 1t out of him, the surer he baffles me. I can only think his poor weak head must have picked up a notion that his idol, Miss Dixon, was in some danger, and he climbed in at the schoolroom window to see that she was safe. He is not half so tractable as he was before Mr. Cattermole came : he makes so much of Dick.” ‘Well, good night, Nancy—or rather good morning,” said Godfrey. ‘Shut your window and get to sleep again. Pleasant dreams!” In a few seconds, Godfrey was round at the Abbey entrance, ringing gently at the door. Mr. Mayne appeared in his @Cressing- gown, rather cross. ‘When I offered to sit up to let you in, Godfrey, I did not think you were going to keep me up for a week,” he grumbled. ‘You said you should follow me directly.” ““T am very sorry, father. I went into the Vicarage, and Mr. Thornhill kept me talking. You ought to have gone to bed, and left Hawkins up.” ‘“‘T should not have rested if I had gone,” again grumbled Mr. Mayne. ‘“ The fact is, my wife is in so nervous a state to-night that she can’t sleep herself, or let anybody else sleep.” ‘‘ What is she nervous about?” asked Godfrey. ‘I can’t quite make it out,” said Mr. Mayne. “It seems that Lydia, who was sitting up to undress Mary, went in to her mistress’s dressing-room for something or other she wanted, and heard sighs GEomicbooks.co m