The Argosy — page 327: what you’re looking at

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

The Mystery of Allan Grak. 255 “But think of the comforts that you can have in such a home as this!” urged Maria, the tears starting to her eyes with pain at his restless longing to be elsewhere. “Comforts!” echoed George. ‘“ You have little idea of the comfort of a house built as houses are where cold weather lasts long. Ragan is of stone ; its walls are twice as thick as these. Peat smoulders on the hearths day and night, and there is health and healing in its very savour. I am not an invalid, to need reclining chairs and so ,” added George, ignoring the fact that he lay helplessly among his sofa cushions as he spoke. “Qh, George!” “Well, I shan’t be when I’m a bit stronger—and that will be soon.” Maria yielded the point. Alas, she was only too much afraid that the Fates were on her side, and that all the projects could never get beyond wishes ! “ But would the family be able to accommodate us both for so long atime?” she enquired. ‘“ These good people may cramp themselves to receive strangers during the summer months, but they like to have their homes in peace for the winter.” “Why !” exclaimed George, “I should never think of taking you there. The life would not suit you at all, Maria.” “ How do you know that ?” “You would want your poor people and your books. You could not amuse yourself for weeks with a sketch block, as I can. What will be repose for me, would be an unbearable tedium for you.” “T can enjoy any sort of quiet life, I think, George,” answered Maria. ‘* How could we bear to have you so far away from us here, and alone ? Who would nurse “T don’t want care or nursing,” interrupted George, pettishly. “That is just what I shall not want, once Iam there. A man never gets out of his invalidism till he gets rid of his nurses.” Maria turned away her head witha sigh. ‘I know how tiresome it must be to you, George, to have to be guarded and watched Again he interrupted her fretfully. He seldom got through a con- versation about that longed-for journey to Ragan without relapsing into a state of nervous irritation which Maria feared originated in his con- sciousness of how very remote its chances were. She could not imagine why he should so desire it—unless a craze had seized upon him, as it sometimes does on invalids. George sometimes received letters bearing the Ragan postmark. Once Maria, noticing the good, manly handwriting of the address, enquired of her brother who his correspondent was, and he replied “Colin Vass.” Maria had already heard George talk of him. Indeed, when he first returned from Scotland after the visit to it with Allan Grale, he had talked much and openly of the McOnist family. Latterly he had grown more reticent. But to-day he seemed to be ECONMCOOOKS.CO