The Argosy — page 218: what you’re looking at

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

Caramel Cottage. 201 fit only for what in these later days are called the penny dreadfuls, and I did my best to drive them out of it. ‘The next morning Katrine was really ill. Her throat was parched, her body ached with fever. As to Lena, she was worse; and we, who ought to have gone back to school that day, were kept at home est we should carry with us any infection. “ All right,” said Tod. ‘It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good.” He did not believe in the infection ; told me in private that Duffham ‘was an old woman. Can any one picture, I wonder, Katrine Barbary’s distress of mind, the terrible dread that had taken possession of it? Shuddering dread, amounting to a panic: dread of the deed itself, dread for her ifather, dread of discovery. On the following morning, Sunday, a letter was delivered at ‘Caramel Cottage for Mr. Reste, the postmark being London, the writing in the same hand as the last—Captain Amphlett’s. Mr. Bar- bary took it away to his gun-room; Katrine saw it, later in the day, lying on the deal-table there, unopened. The next Thursday afternoon, Lena being then almost well — for children are dying to-day and running about again to-morrow— J called at the Cottage to ask after Katrine. We heard she had an attack of fever. ‘The weather was lovely again; the October sky blue as in summer, the sun hot and bright. Well, she did look ill! She sat in the parlour at the open window, a huge shawl on, and her poor face about half the size it was before. What had it been, I asked, and she said ague; but she was much better now and intended to be at the Manor again on Monday. ‘Sit down please, Johnny. I suppose Lena has been glad of the holiday.” “She just has. That young lady believes French was invented for her especial torment. Have you heard from Mr. Reste, Katrine? what does he say about his impromptu flitting ?” She turned white as a ghost, never answering, looking at me strangely. I thought a spasm must have taken her. ‘“Not yet,” she faintly said. ‘‘ Papa thinks—thinks he may have one abroad.” While I was digesting the words, some vehicle was heard rattling ap the side lane; it turned the corner and stopped at the gate. ““ Why, Katrine,” I said, ‘it is a railway fly from Evesham !” A little fair man in a grey travelling suit got out of the fly, came up the path, and knocked at the door. Old Joan answered it and showed him into the room. “Captain Amphlett,” she said. Katrine looked ready to die. “TI must apologise for intruding,” he began, with a pleasant voice and manner. ‘ My friend Edgar Reste is staying here, I believe.” Katrine was taken with a shivering fit. The stranger looked at her with curiosity. I said she had been ill with ague, and was about to COMmicloooks.Gc©