The Argosy — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

Margaret Rymer. 109 Rector, in an injured tone. ‘ And he said at the same time that he was. not sure he should accept it ; it did not quite depend upon himself. I saw as Clearly what he meant to imply, as though he had avowed it: that it depended upon that girl, Margaret Rymer. Itis a preposterous thing. The idea of aclergyman and a gentleman wanting to marry her / She keeps a chemist’s shop !” * It was her father who kept it,” I said, for I hiked Margaret, and did not care to hear her disparaged. ‘And he was a gentleman born.” ‘“‘ What has that to do with it ?” retorted the parson, who was in one of his touchy humours. ‘“ Had her grandfather been a duke, it would make no difference to what she is. Look at the mother !” ‘* Margaret is a lady in mind, and looks, and manners,” I persisted. ‘If I loved Margaret Rymer I would marry her, though I were an archdeacon.” “ That’s just like you, Johnny Ludlow: you have no more sense than a child in some things,” said the parson crustily. Grace laughed ; and looked as if she would like to take part with me. “‘I never could have suspected Sale of such folly,” went on the Rec- tor, leaning sideways to warm his hands over the blaze. ‘‘ Grace, do you think that soup’s ready ? ” “I will see,” answered Grace, putting the wristband down. Herbert Tanerton sat in silence ; knitting his brow into lines. I took the chair on the other side the fireplace opposite to him, thinking of this and that, and fingering the tongs to help me. A habit I was often scolded for at home—that of fingering things. ‘Look here, Mr. Tanerton: If they settle at the Bahamas, it will not signify there who Margaret has been here. Whether she may have helped in her father’s business, or whether she may have been— as you said—a duke’s grand-daughter, and brought up accordingly, It will be all one to the Bahamas. Mr. Sale need not say to the Bahamas, ‘My wife used to sell pennyworths of rhubarb and mag- nesia.’ ” ‘It is not that,” crossly responded the Rector—“ what people will think or say: it is for Sale’s own sake that I object. He cannot like the connection. A clergyman should marry in his own sphere.” “IT suppose men are differently constituted, clergymen as well as others,” said I with deprecation, remembering that I was a plain, in- experienced lad, and he was the Rector of Timberdale. ‘Some persons don’t care for social distinctions as others do—don’t even see them : perhaps Mr. Sale is one.” ‘‘He cares for probity and honour—he would not choose to ally himself to crime,” sternly spoke the Rector. Remember what the son did, that ill-doing Benjamin! You know about it, Johnny. The affair of the hank-note.” And if Herbert Tanerton had said to me the affair of the moon and CORNICE OOS (GO)