The Argosy — page 395: what you’re looking at

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

The Village Blacksmith. 377 Sunday you can both rest, and on Monday the boatleaves. There is one to-morrow, but that is out of the question. She must go by Monday’s boat without fail.” ‘ But if she isn’t well enough to go to-morrow,” objected Mrs. Tanner. ‘She must be well enough. Her husband will meet her at New York ; Mr. Ryot Tempest will telegraph to him to do so to-morrow. Tell her that, and you'll find she'll be well enough to-morrow.” ‘* Law, ma’am, you don’t mean to say she is Master Rex’s wife, surely ?” exclaimed Mrs. Tanner. ‘ Ask no questions, Tanner. Do as [I tell you, and hold your tongue about the matter to other people. Feed her up, and take all the care you can of her. Above all, start for Liverpool by the mid-day train to-morrow, and you shall be well paid for your trouble. I will give you all needful directions in writing to-morrow morning. You had better say nothing at all to her to-night; let her get a good night’s rest. In the morning give her the letter I shall send down, and be ready when the fly calls for you at half-past eleven. The wedding will be going on then, so you will meet no one on your way to the station. You understand clearly ?” ‘Yes, ma’am; but if you were only to go in and see her, you would see there is small chance of her being well enough to travel.” **Chance! there must be no chance about it; go she must,” said Mrs. Jamieson, flushing angrily. And Mrs. Tanner knew when her mistress spoke in that tone, it was more than her place was worth, old servant as she was, to disobey her. Janet must go if it killed her. So resolved Mrs. Tanner that evening while the remembrance of her mistress’s frown was still vivid ; but the next morning when she gave Janet Mrs. Jamieson’s letter to read, Janet was so upset by its contents, coming as they did before she had recovered from the events of the previous night, and while she was in a weak state of health, that she fainted before she had finished dressing. “* My dear, you are not fit to go a long journey to-day. As soon as you have come round, I'll run up to the house and tell Mrs. Jamieson so, if I lose my place for it, that I will.” Accordingly, as Mrs. Jamieson, arrayed in an elaborate morning- gown, was breakfasting off devilled kidneys in her own room, Mrs. Tanner was admitted, and urged by Janet’s pale face, informed her it was impossible for them to go to Liverpool that day. “It is as much as her life is worth, ma’am, and I would not be responsible for the consequences,” concluded Mrs. Tanner, after giving a vivid description of Janet’s condition. “‘ Stuff and nonsense, Tanner. No doubt the girl is in an hysterical condition ; she'll be all right when once you have started. And as for the responsibility, I’ll undertake that,” returned Mrs. Jamieson, who ECOMicbooolkxs.com @