The Argosy — page 312: what you’re looking at

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

In the Past. 293 his whole attention, although he would have refused to acknowledge the fact, even to himself. For, although he possessed the greatest abhorrence of lying in others, and would not, himself, knowingly have uttered a falsehood, he habitually practised self-deception with no small success. Strange that a man should choose himself as the victim of his own sophistry ! After scanning the columns with unfruitful diligence for some time, pausing occasionally and turning his head in a listening attitude, he let the paper fall on the floor, lay back in his chair, and reflectively passed his fingers through his hair in a manner peculiar to himself. Perfectly at ease he looked, and well satisfied. But his looks belied him. His ease was a cheat, and his satisfaction a delusion. A remote and small inner voice persisted in annoying him with its whispered doubts. Presently Mr. Dewar rose. The silence without irritated him. Had Frank gone? If so, why had he heard no commotion in the hall? He was an inquisitive man, and he could not bear to be left in the dark as to even the most trifling circumstances which were going on around him, Approaching nearer the door, he stopped and listened attentively. ‘Then for the first time he heard a sound— Frank’s voice, bidding his mother good-bye. Then he heard the hall door close, after which the silence was unbroken, although eloquent even to him. Mr. Dewar took up a volume of “ Barnes on the Acts,” and returned to his easy chair. But he was unable to read. ‘The little voice, like the unseen cricket which, from its temporary shelter in our fireplace, suddenly bursts into animation after a long silence, returned to distract him. | He rang the bell. It was answered by one of the servants—a young woman of prepossessing face, and eyes at the time suspiciously red. Little that goes on above-stairs escapes the attention of those below. The two servants of the Dewar household had not heard or seen much during the evening ; but they possessed in a high degree the art of multiplying two by two, which they practised in this instance with the usual success. ‘Then they wept, being retainers of some length of service and much attached to their mistress and *‘Master Frank ;” and had Mr. Dewar heard the honest criticisms 6n his conduct which were uttered across the kitchen table, he would probably have been disagreeably astonished. ‘‘Where is your mistress, Jane? ” ‘‘1’m not sure, sir; but I think she’s gone to bed. I haven’t seen her since—since - She was going to say ‘‘Since Master Frank went,” but she changed colour and added instead: ‘‘ Since ten o’clock.” ‘‘ Has cook gone to bed?” continued Mr. Dewar. ‘Yes, sir.” ‘Then you had better go too; there will be no prayers to-night.” VOI. XLIV. T GOMIG OO <S An