The Argosy — page 266: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Raven’s Temptation. 247 in obedience to the request conveyed to him, came up. Like most sickly people, he shrank from the presence of pain or suffering of any kind ; almost resenting it. ‘Well, mother,” was his greeting, ‘‘ what is the matter? What do you want me for? I hope you are not ill.” Like Charity, he did not advance into the darkened room, but paused at the door. ‘‘Come in, Leonard,” said his mother, in a weak, muffled voice. ‘Come in, and sit here beside me.” He obeyed ungraciously, sitting down on a chair about a yard from the couch ; but he stretched out no caressing finger towards the poor hands writhing within his reach. He had inherited his mother’s cold nature, and been bred in his mother’s ways. He was her other self, and now she found there was no comfort in him. ** Any news ?” she asked. ‘‘News—no,” he answered. ‘And you are better without news, mother, if you are ill. It is no news, I’m sure, that I find everything ~ everywhere in a dreadfully loose and neglected condition. But Pll soon put matters straight enough.” . ‘‘ Leonard,” she said, ‘‘do not be too hasty. Do not be too severe on the poor people for ways which your father’s easy habits led them into.” ‘They must all go,” he said, hardly. ‘It is bad enough to have patience with the result of old-fashioned farming, without bothering oneself with old-fashioned labourers into the bargain. ‘To-morrow I discharge the first on the list—though he can hardly be called a labourer—that Eldred Sloam.” Mrs. Raven half raised herself. ‘‘ Eldred Sloam has been long on the land, Leonard.” ‘Too long.” ‘Have you mentioned to anybody your intention to dismiss him ?” she resumed, eagerly seeking for a clue which might lead her to the source of her mysterious warning. ‘““No,—why do you ask?” returned Leonard, getting surprised. “Are you quite sure you have not mentioned it to anybody ?” she urged. ‘I want you to think before you answer me.” “T am quite sure I have not mentioned it to—stay,” broke off Leonard—‘“ I remember now. I did mention it to Mr. Toynbee on Saturday, when. he was taking lunch here.” ‘““Do you think he has mentioned it again ?” “TY think not—for certain. As he does not, I fancy, altogether approve of some of my contemplated changes, he would be little likely to talk of them. But why do you ask ?” ‘“Oh, for nothing,” she answered, carelessly. ‘‘ Leonard, I am going to crave a favour of you. Do not send Eldred Sloam away.” ‘Well, really, mother: this is too absurd,” cried Leonard, not angrily, not even harshly, but much as he might have answered a. CONMMICMOOOKS.C©