The Argosy — page 364: what you’re looking at

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

Cr | . 345 VERENA FONTAINE’S REBELLION. PRING sunshine, bright and warm to-day, lay on Timberdale. Herbert Tanerton, looking sick and ill, sat on a bench on the front lawn, holding an argument with his wife, shielded from outside gazers by the clump of laurel-trees. We used to say the Rector’s illnesses were all fancy and temper; but it seemed to be rather more than that now. Worse tempered he was than ever; Jack’s misfor- tunes and Jack’s conduct annoyed him. During the past winter Jack had taken some employment at the Liverpool Docks, in con- nection with the Messrs. Freeman’s ships. Goodness knew of what description it was, Herbert would say, turning up his nose. A day or two ago Jack made his appearance again at the Rectory ; had swooped down upon it without warning or ceremony, just as he had in the autumn. Herbert did not approve of that. He ap- proved still less of the object which had brought Jack at all. Jack was tired of the Liverpool Docks; the work he had to do was not congenial to him; and he had now come to Timberdale to ask Robert Ashton to make him his bailiff. Not being able to take a farm on his own account, Jack thought the next best thing would be to take the management of one. Robert Ashton would be parting with his bailiff at midsummer, and Jack would lke to drop into the post. Anything much less congenial to the Rector’s notions, Jack could hardly have pitched upon. ‘“‘T can see what it is—Jack is going to be a thorn in my side for ever,” the Rector was remarking to his wife, who sat near him, doing some useful work. ‘‘ He never had any idea of the fitness of things. A bailiff, now !—a servant!” “T wish you would let him take a farm, Herbert—lend him the money to stock one.” “IT know you do; you have said so before.” Grace sighed. But when she had it on her conscience to say a | thing she said it. ‘“‘ Herbert, you know—you know I have never asiiched it fair that we should enjoy all the income we do; and ke ‘‘ What do yeh. migan _ by ‘fain 22/74 interrupted Herbert. ‘‘I only enjoy my own.’ ‘“‘ Legally it is yours. Rightly, a large portion of it ought to be Jack’s. It does not do us any good, Herbert, this superfluous Income; you only put it by. It does not in the slightest degree add to our enjoyment of life.” ‘Do be quiet, Grace—unless you can talk sense. Jack will get ho money from me. He ought to be at sea. What right had he to Conniclooolkks (GO