The Argosy — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

94 The Village Blacksmith. are distantly connected with the Ryots; so no doubt, under the circumstances, the matter could be easily adjusted.” But the next day Captain Raleigh did not appear in the salle-a- manger; and the day after, the Ryot Tempests moved into the house Mr. Tempest had hired in the Boulevard du Sud. Mr. Ryot Tempest’s mornings were now fully occupied. As soon as breakfast was over he sallied forth, accompanied by Vera and followed by a French servant carrying a basket to the town, where he spent a good hour in doing his marketing for the day. He then went to the club and read the papers; then returned home and occupied the rest of the morning until luncheon in planning some drive or excursion for the afternoon. On Saturday his domestic duties were increased, for it was market day; so he went to market first, to lay in a stock of poultry and butter for the week, after the fashion of the place. They left the hotel on a Wednesday, and on the following Saturday Vera and her father went to market. They had seen nothing of Captain Raleigh since that night at dinner, and Vera, though she would not have confessed it, was secretly regretting her rudeness to him as she followed her father down the street in which the butter market was held. Here, ranged in two long lines, stood the butter- women, all in caps of different shapes, all holding baskets of butter wrapped in cloths, all talking volubly, and entreating the passers-by to taste their butter. This Mr. Ryot Tempest proceeded to do so often with a little wooden spoon he carried for the purpose, that Vera felt sure he would be laid up with a bilious attack the next day. At last he decided on some butter and moved to the weighing place to have it duly weighed before it was transferred to Marie’s basket. While he was thus engaged Vera was dreaming of a certain tall, thin man with a languid manner, and wondering why she felt so much interest in him, and if she would ever see him again. Just as the butter transaction was concluded, this question was settled by the appearance of Captain Raleigh at the opposite end of the lane of butter-women. He was sauntering languidly along, carrying a large white umbrella to protect himself from the sun, which was very hot. ‘*How effeminate! I suppose he is afraid of his complexion,” thought Vera, immediately closing her own parasol of lace and ribbons, which was certainly more ornamental than useful, to set the object of her censure a good example. Mr. Ryot Tempest now moved on to the poultry market, where for the next twenty minutes he was occupied in weighing by their feet various couples of live ducks and chickens tied up for sale. When satisfied with the weight of a couple, he proceeded to examine their combs and to feel their breasts. Then ensued a lively debate as to their age and price, which always ended in Mr. Tempest moving on to another stall and going through the same process there. ECOMiCcOOolkKS —_— (CO