The Argosy — page 286: what you’re looking at

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

The Amethyst Seal. 267 He sighed, lit a fresh cigar, and continued his solitary pacing to and fro. A few minutes later he was joined by Captain Wenlock and Miss Trenton, and the three set off to walk to the village post-office, three quarters of a mile away. Harold Dare might well be excused for falling in love with Elinor Trenton. She was in truth a girl that seemed to overflow with sunshine and happiness. Melancholy and she seemed as far as the poles asunder. And yet she was entirely dependent, just now, on the bounty of Sir George, and with no future worth speaking of from a worldly point of view. It was her nature to be happy, and to make those around her the same, as far as lay in her power, and she never tried to be different. | It was pleasant walking along the dry, hard, country roads, that bright frosty afternoon. Dare, who had usually an easy flow of conversation in whatever company he might happen to find himself, was to-day more distrait and silent than usual. The same thought that had filled his mind on the terrace was still at work here, and would not be put aside. Thus it fell out that the Captain and Miss Trenton had most of the conversation to themselves. The Stilwater post-office was also a draper’s shop. As, however, the captain’s letters were already stamped there was no occasion for him to go inside. He took the letters out of his pocket, glanced once more at the addresses on them, and then dropped them one by one into the box. ‘The last to leave his fingers was the blue envelope with the red seal. Harold Dare felt as though he should like to follow it into the letter-box. It was gone, irrevocably gone! They decided to return home by a different and a longer route, which would prolong their walk. It was past five when they reached the Towers. Dinner to-day was to be an early and informal affair, as Harold would have to leave almost as soon as it was over; besides which, Sir George was too indisposed to leave his room, and his sister, Mrs. Borrowdaile, was away visiting, so that the young people would dine by themselves. When Harold reached his room he began mechanically to pack his belongings. He had one largish portmanteau and a small Gladstone bag. When the process was completed he sat down in an easy chair in front of his dressing-room fire, and leaning back with his hands behind his head, fell oncé more into a brown study. ‘The subject of his thoughts was the same that it had been before. If only—if only he could obtain a sight of that rough draft of his uncle’s will! If only he knew the best or the worst, he could then decide in what way to meet that future which was now coming so imminently upon him ! He had sat for full ten minutes without moving, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, when he suddenly sprang to his feet. His face flushed and then grew pale. ‘By Jove,” he muttered to himself. The exclamation was a CoOnniclooolkks (CO)