The Argosy — page 185: what you’re looking at

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

Tun Ancosy. Anne Hereford: 169 “Is it to give her her medicine ?” asked Jemima, as she followed me up. ‘I don’t know.” - ‘“‘ My girl,” began the attorney to Jemima, “can you be discreet, and hold your tongue ?” Jemima stared very much: first at seeing them there, next at the question. She gave no answer in her surprise, and Mrs. Edwin Barley made a sign that she should come close to her. “ Jemima, I am sure you know that I have been a good mistress to you, and I ask you to render me a slight service in return. In my present state of health, I have thought it necessary to make my will; to devise away the tnfle of property I possess of my own. I am about to sign it, and you and Mr. Gregg’s clerk will witness my signature. The service I require of you is, that you will not speak of this to any one. Can I rely upon you ?” ‘Yes, ma'am, certainly you may,” replied the servant, speaking in an _ earnest tone: and she evidently meant to keep her word honestly. ‘“* And my clerk I have answered to you for,” put in Mr. Gregg, as he raised Mrs. Barley and placed the open parchment before her. She signed her name, “ Selina Barley ;” the clerk signed his, “ William Dixon ;” and Jemima hers, “ Jemima Lea.” Mr. Gregg remarked that Jemima’s writing might be read, and it was as much as could be said of it. She quitted the room, and soon afterwards Mr. Gregg and his clerk took their departure in the same quiet manner that they had come. I was closing the hall-door after them, when the sound of silk, rustling up, fell on my startled ears, and Charlotte Delves stepped into he hall from one of the passages. She had been shut up in her parlour. ‘Who is it that has gone out ?” But I was already half way up to Selina’s room, and would not hear. Miss Delves opened the door and looked after them. And at. that moment Jemima appeared. Charlotte Delves laid hold of her, and no doubt turned her inside out. “ Anne, my dear, if I die you are now provided for. At least ——” “ Oh, Selina! Selina! You cannot be going to die!” ‘‘Perhaps not. I hope not. Yes, I do hope it, Anne, in spite of my fancied warning—which, I suppose, was ohly a dream, after all. My mind must have dwelt on what you said about Ursula. If you ever relate to me anything of the sort again, Anne, I'll beat you.” I stood conscience-stricken. But in telling her what I did, I had only obeyed my mother. I like to repeat this over and over. ‘‘ At least, as well provided for as I have it in my power to provide,” she continued, just as though there had been no interruption. “I have left you my four thousand pounds. It is out at good interest—five per cent.; and I have directed it to accumulate until you are eighteen. Then it goes to you. This will just keep you; just be enough to keep comicaooks GO)