The Argosy — page 273: what you’re looking at

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

254 Mrs. Raven’s Temptation. And while they carried on this skirmishing, Miss Agate and Frank were chatting seriously. He had touched and warmed her heart by inquiring after her unseen brother. Few of her visitors did so. ‘How is Mr. Agate to-day?” Frank had said, in his shy, pleasant voice. And she looked up at him surprised, with grateful eyes. ‘He is very well indeed—for him. I was able to give him a pleasure which he appreciated this morning. Look!” and she stretched out her hand for a small volume, daintily bound in white vellum, which lay on a side table. “This is a book which my brother brought out years ago. It is a collection of old Latin hymns translated by him into English verse. It was his labour of love while he was working as a tutor. And this is a new edition—fresh this week. You should have seen his face when I put it into his hand. And I am so proud of it, too! The hymns are very beautiful, and Theodore had real gifts as a translator, so the contents are worthy of the beautiful binding.” Frank held it in his hand, turning over the leaves, and carefully reading the title-page. It was the publishers name and address which he wished to see. ‘‘My mother wrote to me this morning,” he said presently. ‘“‘ Telling me that she had invited a young lady to visit her. Little did she think I had the pleasure of knowing the household from which she comes. I should like to send a letter and a parcel to my mother by Miss Evelyn’s hands. It would please her.” “Certainly. Evelyn will take it for you.” ‘‘ What are you promising in my name?” interrupted Evelyn. ‘Only that you will carry down a little packet from Mr. Frank to his mother,” explained the elder lady. “Oh, surely,” cried Evelyn. ‘‘I start by the noonday train to- morrow. How shall I get the parcel? It is a long journey from Mr. Connell’s chambers here. . The railway station itself would be nearer, Mr. Frank.” She was not at all unwilling that so present- able a young man should appear as her escort on the platform. Such meetings and partings are tender times, and leave more definite memories than a dozen ordinary social opportunities. Not that she was in the least attracted to Frank: nay, she was rather repelled. But Evelyn Agate was concerned in doing the best for Evelyn Agate, and Evelyn Agate’s heart and feelings must give place to mercenary computations. ‘“T should think nothing of the walk here,” said Frank, ‘‘only I shall have to make ready the parcel to-morrow. So I will meet you at the station, Miss Evelyn, without fail.” Mary Davies had entered the room with some preparation for the supper, which, in honour of Evelyn’s ‘‘last night at home,” and the invited presence of two guests, was to be rather less simple than usual. The small, pale, clean-looking woman, with the anxious look in her face, spread the table without once lifting her eyes to the two Gomichbooks (EO)