The Argosy — page 201: what you’re looking at

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

Edina. 187 _ “Tsay yes, Edina, Ihave nothing but humble-pie to swallow just now : it will be only another slice out of it. Banking work seems to consist of adding up columns of figures perpetually: I should get expert at it no doubt, in time.” ‘Then I will go to-morrow and see whether he is in town,” decided Edina. “If not, I must travel down to Eagles’ Nest.” “You might write instead,” suggested Mrs. Raynor. “No, Mary, I will not write. So much more can be said at a persona] interview.” The next morning saw Edina at the banking-house of Atkinson and Street: the very house where she had spent those few blissful days of her early life when she had learned to love. Mr. Street and his wife lived in it now. She went to the private door, and asked for him. He had known her in those days; and a smile actually crossed his calm cold face as he shook hands with her: and to her he proved more com- municative than he generally showed himself to the world. “Ts Mr. Atkinson in town?” she inquired, when a few courtesies had passed. “No. He——” “TI feared not,” quickly spoke Edina, for she had quite anticipated the answer. “I thought he would be at Eagles’ Nest.” “But he is not at Eagles’ Nest,” interposed the banker. ‘“ He is on the high seas, on his way to New Zealand.” “On his way to New Zealand!” echoed Edina, hardly thinking, in her surprise, that she heard correctly. “He went away again immediately. I do not suppose he was in London a fortnight altogether.” “Then he could not have made much stay at Eagles’ Nest?” “ He did not make any stay at it,” replied Edwin Street. “I don't think he went down to Eagles’ Nest at all. If he did go, he came back the same day, for he never slept one night away from this house throughout his sojourn.” “But what could be the reason?” reiterated Edina wonderingly. “Why has he gone away so soon again ?” “He put it upon the score of his health, Miss Raynor. England does not agree with him.” “ And who is living at Eagles’ Nest?” ’ “ A Mr. Fairfax. He is a thoroughly efficient land agent, or steward, and has been appointed to the charge of the estate. His orders are to. take care of it, and to renovate it by all possible means that money and labour can do, Mr. Atkinson was informed on good authority that it had been neglected by Major Raynor.” “That’s true,” thought Edina. ‘I am very much surprised that Mr. Atkinson did not go down to see into it for himself!” she said aloud. OO! comicbooks.com