The Argosy — page 363: what you’re looking at

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

>) — fen 1) AUNT PARADOX. ee over a late and nearly untasted breakfast in his cham- bers at the ‘Temple, sat Richard Damer, Barrister-at-Law. His head ached, for he had taken more wine than was good for him the night before. It was not a failing he was given to very much, only now and then; he always hated himself for it the next morning, and he was now taking grave counsel with his better instincts and saying it should not happen again. While thus sitting, a visitor came bustling into the room after a hasty knock. He was a tall and slender man with a pleasant face, though not one that could be called handsome, bright hazel eyes and bright brown hair. Richard Damer was short, slight, and fair; in fact, rather insignificant. His best friend could not say he was imposing in appearance. ‘At breakfast now!” exclaimed the new-comer. ‘“ You are late this morning, Damer.” . “And you early,” returned Damer. ‘‘ Something new for you to be out at ten o’clock, isn’t it, Ryde?” George Ryde laughed. ‘Not at all: only I don’t come troubling you busy professional men at that hour,” he answered. “ Busy!” ejaculated Damer, in allusion to his usual briefless con- dition. ‘* Well, what have you come for now?” “T am thinking of running down to Brighton for a couple of days, and I’ve come:to see if you will go with me—yjust for a whiff of sea- alr.” “Can’t to-day,” replied Damer. “Why not? What are you going to do to-day ?” ‘Turn over a new leaf.” “Oh! Apropos of what ?” ‘““ Things generally.” ‘“ Any wonderful cause on at Westminster, in which you are to lead ?” He put the question gravely, as though he meant it, and then both the young men laughed. Richard Damer’s day for ‘‘ leading” in any great cause had not yet dawned. ‘“T came back here only the day before yesterday, after three days’ absence,” remarked the barrister. ‘‘ My uncle is dead ; I went down and stayed of course for the funeral.” ‘Dead! What Mr. Damer of Hartley Manor! I have not seen it in the papers.” _ “No, I shall send it in to-day. There was nobody down at Hartley to act in any way until I got there, which was the day before the funeral, so I left it until I should be back in town. His lawyer and CORAICLOOKSn.E€O)