The Argosy — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Raven's Temptation. 167 CHAPTER X. MRS. RAVEN ADVERTISES. Mrs. RAVEN returned to Ravenstoke by an afternoon train on the Saturday, which enabled her to reach the Court in time for a late dinner. She had taken her comings and goings on this occasion quite into her own hands, having given directions that no carriage should be sent to await her at the station, and that, if she were not home in time, dinner need not be kept for her. She re-appeared, however, sooner than was expected, and it was thought she could not have had much time in London. Charity Hale, who met her in the hall, took the liberty of expressing her surprise as she followed her to her dressing-room. “You are soon at home again, madam,” she said, looking at Mrs. Raven, with her keen, peering eyes. ‘‘It was nice that you should get through your business so quickly.” *T did not get through it at all,” said Mrs. Raven. ‘I didn’t succeed to-day, Charity.” “Qh, what a pity, ma’am,” cried Charity. ‘‘Shall you have to take that weary journey again? Could not somebody else do it for you? What is hard and tiring for a lady like you, might be quite easy to some people—say, to the likes of me. If, indeed, it 1s business that you could entrust to others.” “Has anything happened—or anybody called— during my absence ?” asked Mrs. Raven, passing over Charity’s words, and keeping her back towards her while she hastily made the few slight toilet arrangements necessary for a téte-a-téte dinner with her son. “The Vicar has been, ma’am. He took lunch with master. James Sloam waited on them, and he says the parson talked a deal about Master Frank, and seemed rare fond of him.—I knew that would please you, ma’am,” added Charity, as though Mrs. Raven had smiled—which she had not. ‘James Sloam must learn that it 1s no part of a page’s duty to chatter over what he hears at table,” coldly replied Mrs. Raven. **] hope you reminded him of that.” : ‘James Sloam will learn his duty in time, ma’am: he wouldn't talk over things to anybody but me,” said the old woman. ‘Tl warrant. he’d not say a word even to his own father, knowing that there are times when Eldred’s wits go out.” ‘No other visitor ?” said Mrs. Raven, chafing under the woman’s words—as she often had to chafe. But she rarely checked Charity Hale. | “No, ma’am,” answered Charity. ‘‘The Squire—he’s been going about, putting things to rights or wrongs, according as people may (C(O) think. Everything is going to be cleared up and cleanedogufi? janx