The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 188: what you’re looking at

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

380 LIVING IT DOWN. ‘“Good hearted fellow, Rimbolt,’’ said Mr. Halgrove. ‘“'Yes,’’ said Jeffreys, greatly puzzled by this unexpected meeting. “Yes. I told him once casually about an unpleasant ward I once had, whom I rather disliked. I thought he would sympathize with me when I related how delicately I had got rid of him and sent him adrift when it did not suit me to keep him any longer. Would you believe it, Rimbolt wasn’t at all sympathetic, but asked what had become of my ward’s money! Do take warning, Jeffreys, and avoid the bad habit of asking inconvenient ques- tions. You have no idea of the pain they may cause. Mr. Rimbolt’s qutes- tion pained me excessively. Because my ward’s money, like himself, had gone to the bad. That would not have been of much conseqnence were it not that I was responsible for its going to the bad. It was most inconvenient altogether, I assure you. It made me feel as if I had behaved not quite well in the matter; and you know how depressing such a feeling would be, still more inconvenient at the time when I had this talk with Rimbolt about six months ago, I had just come back from Amierica with my finances in not at all a flourshing condition, so that even if I had been disposed to refund ny ward I could not have done it. Happily he was lost. It was an immense relief to me, I can assure you. ) ‘‘ Two months ago my finances looked up. J unexpectedly found myself aman of means again. Rimbolt, who certainly has the knack of making ill timed suggestions,* proposed that that would be a good opportunity for making good what properly belonged to my ward. I urged in vain that my ward was lost, and that the money properly belonged to me asa reward for the trouble I had had in the matter. He actually insisted that I should deposit with him as trustee for my ward the full amount of what belonged to him with interest added to date, promising if by any unfortunate accident the fellow should be found to see it into his hands. One’s obliged to humor Rim- bolt, so I did what he wanted, and that’s how it stands. If ever this unprofit- able ward turns up he’d better keep his eye on Rimbolt. ‘“There, you see, Jeffreys, that’s just a little anecdote to show you how easy it is, by being inconsiderate, for one person to make another uncomfort- able. But now tell us how you like Cumberland.’’ | Jeffreys admitted that he was much pleased with it, and had the tact to suit his humor to that of his guardian, and not refer further to the lost money. Mr. Halgrove only stayed twodays, and then departed for the Great West, where it is possible he may today carry a lighter heart about with him for his latest act of reparation. One afternoon a week later Jeffreys was walking with Raby in Regent’s Park. It was not exactly a chance walk. They had both been up to the orphan- age at Hampstead with the reluctant Tim and his brother, to leave them there in motherly hands till the troubles of infancy should be safely passed. It was Tim who had _ insisted on having the escort of both his natural guar- dians on the occasion ; and at such a time and on such an errand Tim’s word was law. So they had gone all four ina cab, and now Raby and Jeffreys returned, and with a sense of bereavement, through the park. Ol iboo aS =) G S) co