The Argosy — page 232: what you’re looking at

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

Featherston’s Story. 215 ‘Oh, we met old Mr. Griffin, and Edwin has gone up to Drecques with him. My opinion is, Lavinia, that that poor old Griffin dare not go about far by himself since his attack. He had to see his landlord at Drecques to-day, and he asked Edwin to accompany him. They went by the eleven o’clock train.” Lavinia felt it a relief. Even that little absence, part of a day, she felt thankful for, so much had she grown to dislike the presence in the house of Edwin Fennel. ‘‘ Did you tell your husband about your ‘ Fortune,’ Nancy ?” “No: I was too sleepy last night to talk, and I was late in getting up this morning. I’m not sure that I shall tell him,” added Mrs. Fennel thoughtfully: ‘he might be angry with me for having had. it done.” ‘That is more than likely,” replied Lavinia. Late in the afternoon, as they were sitting together in the salon, they saw the postman come marching up the yard. He brought two letters—one for Miss Preen, the other for her sister. “It is the remittance from William Selby,” said Lavinia as she opened hers, ‘‘ He has sent it a day or two earlier than usual; it is. not really due until Monday or Tuesday.” Seventeen pounds ten shillings each. Nancy, in a hasty sort of manner, put her cheque into the hands of Lavinia, almost as if she feared it would burn her own fingers, ‘‘ You had better take it from me whilst you can,” she said in low tones. “Yes; for I must have it, Ann,” was the answer. ‘We are in debt—as you may readily conceive—with only half the usual amount to spend last quarter.” “It was not my fault ; I was very sorry,” said Ann humbly: and she rose hastily to go to the kitchen, saying she was thirsty, and. wanted a glass of water. But Lavinia thought she went to avoid: being questioned. Lavinia carried the two cheques to her room and locked them up.. After their five o’clock dinner, each sister wrote a note to Colonel Selby, enclosing her receipt. Flore took them out to post when she left. The evening passed on. Lavinia worked; Nancy nodded over the fire: she was very sleepy, and went to bed early. * It was past eleven o’clock when Captain Fennel came in, a little the worse for something or other. After returning from Drecques by the last train, he had gone home with Mr. Griffin to supper. He told Lavinia, in words running into one another, that the jolting train had made him giddy. Of course she believed as much of that as she liked, but did not contradict it. He went to the cupboard in the recess, unlocked it to get out the cognac, and then sat down with his pipe by the embers of the dying fire. Lavinia, unasked, brought in a decanter of water, put it on the table with a glass, and wished him good-night. All next day Captain Fennel lay in bed; he had a racking COMIC OOO <S) oe | i! GOm |