The Argosy — page 197: what you’re looking at

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

180 The Mystery of Allan Grale. ‘We have heard of that mysterious roll,” said Agnes. ‘“‘ What is really in it, papa Pe” ‘My dear girl,” said Dr. Palmer, ‘fit is not exactly any business of ours. I should never have seen it, but that Charlie felt he must confide in somebody when Mr. Grale accused him. ‘Therefore I must treat it precisely as I treat my professional business.” The Doctor’s daughters knew the full significance of this phrase. They had been trained to have so jealous a regard for professional honour and etiquette, that Agnes used to say that they must often seem to ignore the palpable sicknesses and sufferings of their neigh- bours. ‘They both took their father’s hint, and dropped the subject. The Doctor usually rose promptly from table, but this morning he lingered over the newspaper. He did not wish to go up to the Mill ‘counting-house until Mr. Grale was quite sure to be there. Agnes went off about her accustomed household duties, but Lettice kept her seat. Her father stole one or two glances at her over his paper. She sat gazing through the open window, but was evidently seeing sad visions of her own, rather than the fair features of the rich valley which stretched below Dering. Suddenly the Doctor folded his paper with a brisk rustle. “‘I should think Mr. Grale must be there by this time,” he said, rising. Lettice rose too and came round the table and stood “beside her father. She put her hand through his arm. “Well,” said the Doctor, turning to his daughter with more than his usual kindness of tone and manner, “well, and what is my Lettice wanting now?” Lettice did not speak. She wound herself round in front of her father, and raising her other hand to his shoulder drew down his head. ‘What zs she wanting ?” said the Doctor, with a quaint affectation of intense curiosity, which had a genuine wistfulness in it. She nestled her head on his shoulder. ‘ You will try to clear up things for Charlie,” she whispered. ‘I know you will.” “Trust me, my dear,” said her father. “But the things must be made right,” she said, suddenly rising from her caressing attitude. ‘‘ Nothing must be merely passed over. Forgiveness is the direst injury when we want only justice.” : ‘Trust me,” said the Doctor again. Once more the little brown head dropped, and there came forth soft tones of child-like depreca- tion. ‘‘ You’re not angry with me for saying so much, papa ? ” “ Angry !” echoed the Doctor. ‘‘ What have I done that my little girl should suspect me of being an ogre? Only, you think you care for Charlie more than I do—is that it?” The tone was jesting, but had Lettice looked into her father’s face, she would have seen how grave it was. ‘“T know you always care for everybody, papa,” she whispered. “And you only sometimes care for somebody, you mean ?” COU () (E(0) NOOKS m