The Argosy — page 269: what you’re looking at

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

250 Mrs. Raven’s Temptation. advertised in some of the London papers, and have had many answers. One of them I fancied more than the rest, and have been in correspondence with the young lady. I think she will suit me: but as it is necessary that any permanent arrangement should be based upon a personal liking on both sides, I have invited her to pay me a trial visit. If we suit each other, her presence here will save you from any dutiful compunctions on the score of absence, and may make your home-comings more cheery. I am told she is a good musician. I don’t think there is any other news from Raven, but of course I could not think of making such a change as this in the house without letting you know of it at once. My compliments to Philip, and I am, my dear boy, ‘YOUR AFFECTIONATE MOTHER.” “‘T think my mother likes me better while I am away than when I am present,” said Frank within himself, but he made no such re- flection aloud. ‘To Philip he only said that his mother was on the eve of engaging a young lady as companion. ‘What a pity Mrs. Raven did not tell us this beforehand ; we might have recommended Evelyn Agate,” remarked Philip, as he opened his own letters. ‘‘ I suppose she has done it in a hurry.” ‘In a hurry, at last,” said Frank. ‘But I think she must have spoken about it for some time ; old Charity mentioned something of the sort to me before I left home.” “Whew!” whistled Philip, scanning one of his notes. ‘‘ What do you think this is, Frank? A letter from Miss Agate, inviting us to go to her place this evening to say good-bye to Evelyn, who is off to Ravenscourt to pay a visit to its mistress, with a view to becoming her companion.” ‘‘'What an extraordinary thing!” exclaimed Frank. Philip nodded, and continued reading from Miss Agate’s letter : ‘“‘From the coincidence of names and places, we cannot help thinking the lady must be either actually your friend’s mother, or else some connection of the family at present resident in his home. Ask him to come with you. It makes it easier for me to let Evelyn go. She is bearing the thought of this change in life very bravely.” “Vou little humbug!” Philip apostrophized, alluding to Evelyn. “Does she humbug herself into that belief, or only think she humbugs you ?—Evelyn ‘bearing bravely,——what has she to bear, dear imaginative Miss Agate? Any day she would change you and your big brain and warm heart, for a diamond bracelet or a purse of money. And she has a better chance of picking up those where she’s going than where she is.” Frank laughed. ‘¢ Ah,” commented Philip. ‘She will ask you some sly little ques- tions to-night about your brother, Frank. Mark my words if she doesn’t. She asked me about you the other night, and I told her you were entirely dependent on your mother, and stopped short of Gomichbooks (E(0)