The Argosy — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

88 Mrs. Raven's Temptation. “She can never find a better friend than you, or a kinder home than this,” spoke Philip emphatically. ‘She might easily find a brighter and a richer one,” returned Miss Agate in a gentle tone. ‘‘I think we ought to do something about this, Mr. Connell ?” “1 could go to Dewe and Creed, and pump them,” Philip answered. ‘“‘ Bless me,” he went on, as she began to thank him, “it is all in my line. Legal investigation—experience of life, and all that, you know ; and what is more, it is good fun.” Miss Agate did not seem inclined to dwell on the subject. She turned to her desk again, brought forward a magazine, and, apolo- gising to Frank for introducing professional business, straightway began to discuss some subject of mutual interest with Philip. Frank caught the names of divers newspapers and periodicals, and such phrases, strange to him, as “proof” and ‘‘copy.” He was glad to sip his tea and glance round the room. ‘There certainly was not such a pretty room in Ravenscourt. The walls were studded with pictures, many of them fine engravings or photographs from great masterpieces. Hanging shelves were there, draped with red and set out with china, and it never struck Frank’s innocent mas- culine mind as at all out of the common, when he noticed that this decorative pottery was exactly similar to that in use on the tea-table. Kach chair was different from the other; different as their occupants _ could be: for they were of ebony and cane, and oak, and red and grey chintz, and stiff mahogany and pleasantly faded tent- stitch. There were books everywhere! Books in book-cases, books piled on little tables, books on sets of tiny shelves fitted up beside the fireplace. Frank’s attention was suddenly recalled to his hostess by her ex- claiming, her clear voice full of passionate intensity— ‘“Oh, if I could only find somebody who really believes in good- ness and truth !” ‘“‘What could they have been talking about ?” wondered the startled Frank. ‘And who did not believe in truth and goodness? One might have lived through a whole generation at Ravenstoke, and never heard such a cry of yearning.” Philip laughed. It was not a mocking laugh. Perhaps there was a little pain in it. But he only said, in his usual bantering way— “Tf you talk to yourself when nobody is here, Miss Agate, as you have been talking to me, itis a great and grievous waste. Never say a word for nothing, which you could get well paid for writing down.” ‘““T don’t believe that even our unspoken thoughts are wasted,” returned Miss Agate, though she drew a long breath before she answered. ‘‘I was thinking when I spoke of God’s marvellous good- ness, His wonderful loving kindness to all His earthly flock; and 1 do not believe there is one of us—no, not one, Mr. Connell—who adequately realizes it, or can feel it as it deserves to be felt.” CONMIELIOO_ KS. (EC) m