The Argosy — page 196: what you’re looking at

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

a T = A 2OSY 180 Anne Hereford. Feb. 1. 1808, Barley of touching it; and I don’t; but the loss makes him all the richer. That's the way of the world,” concluded Jemima: “the more money one has, the more one gets added to it. Its said that he comes into possession of forty thousand pounds by the death of Philip King.” The ten days’ sojourn in the desolate house ended, and then Charlotte Delves told me I was to leave it. In consequence of the death of Selina, the trustees had assigned to Mrs. Hemson the task of choosing a school for me. Mrs. Hemson had fixed on one near to the town where she resided, Dashleigh ; and I was to pass a week at Mrs. Hemson’s house before entering it. On the evening previous to my departure a message came from Mr. Edwin Barley that I was to go to himin the dining-room. Charlotte Delves smoothed my hair with her fingers, and sent mein. He was at dessert : fruit and wine were on the table ; and John set a chair for me. Mr. Edwin Barley put some walnuts that he cracked and a bunch of grapes on my plate. ‘Will you take some wine, little girl ?” ‘No, thank you, sir. I have just had tea.” Presently he put a small box into my hands. I remembered having seen it on Selina’s dressing-table. “Tt contains a few of your Aunt Selina’s trinkets,” he said.“ All she brought here, except a necklace, which is of value, and will be forwarded with some of her more costly clothes to Mrs. Hemsonfor you. Do you think you can take care of these until you are of an age to wear them ?” “‘T will take great care of them, sir. I will lock them up im the little desk mamma gave me, and I wear the key of 1t round my neck.” “Mind you do take care of them,” he rejoined, with suppressed emotion, “If I thought you would not, I would never give them to you. You must treasure them always. And these things, recollect, are of value,” he added, touching the box; “they are not child’s toys. Take them up-stairs, and put them in your trunk.” “ If you please, sir, has the will been found?” I waited to ask. “Tt has not. Why?” “ Because, sir, you asked me if I had taken it; you said I was the only one who knew where it had been put. Indeed, I would not have ytouched it for anything.” ed‘ Be easy, little girl. I believe my wife herself destroyed the will: but: I live in hopes of coming to the bottom of the mystery yet. As you have introduced the subject, you shall hear a word upon it from me. Busybodies have given me hints that I ought to carry out its sub- stance in spite of the loss. I do not think so. The will, and what I hear connected with its making, has angered me, look you, Anne Hereford. Had my wife only breathed half a word to me that she wished you to have her money, every shilling should be yours. But I GOHRMGIOO <S GO)