The Argosy — page 186: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Raven’s Temptation. 1€Q into the habit of using this writing-table during his father’s life time, when the Squire required the apartment which was called the study ; though the only books in it were a few agricultural works and some legal treatises on the position of landlord and tenant. The butler proceeded to clear the table, wondering why his mistress did not retire as usual to the drawing-room. She could not find heart to go there ; she knew Leonard would not follow her till a late hour, and to-night she felt so lonely—and it was so large and drear. She asked the old servant to bring her work-basket to her here. Budd obeyed, still wondering. Leonard went on with his accounts, and Mrs. Raven stitched in silence. She had made up her mind that he should speak first, and his delay fretted her. It argued indifference and even contempt fox a matter which she had led him to believe was eating away her heart. She knew that she meant to take a new cue now—and a false one— and she feverishly hoped he would readily accept her shifted position.. And yet it nettled her to know that he had not heartily entered into her first standpoint. : Suddenly he wheeled his chair about, and spoke. ‘I’ve done now. There’s really nothing like getting everything stated in detail. Ihave struck forty pounds off the building estimates for the row of new cottages in Pond Lane, simply by finding that the porches cost that sum, and need not be added. And now, mother, tell me all about your interview in London. Whom did you see—and what did you find out ?” “IT saw both the partners in the firm,” she said, spreading her work on her knee and nervously folding and unfolding it. ‘“ And really it was very interesting—and painful. But there was nothing to act upon, and I may as well say at once, Leonard, that all I heard to-day does not induce me to prosecute the inquiry. ‘Thereare more mysteries in the world than we are apt to imagine,” she added, having kept her eyes down while she spoke. “IT am inclined to think there is no mystery here except in your imagination,” returned Leonard, firmly. ‘‘ You remember I have said so from the beginning. But if it really has had a strong hold on you all these years, I cannot understand your keeping it to yourself until now.” | “I kept silence,” she said slowly, ‘‘for many reasons. First, be- cause I doubted my own powers of judgment, even as you doubt them now. I was in the first weakness of my confinement when the suspicion came * “Still, it was but a suspicion, and no proof: you admit that,” interrupted Leonard. “Of course,” said Mrs. Raven—and there she stopped to cough. “It shows my powers of self-command, that I gave it no word then. I argued with myself that if it were unreasonable, any whisper of doubt would create unnecessary scandal, but that if it were reasonable CONMICMOOOKS.C©