The Argosy — page 280: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Raven's Temptation. 201 but my mother will rejoice over you: a nephew’s place in her heart is still unsupplied. And the governor is a jolly old boy: most ministers are when you know them. You needn’t be afraid of him.” “JT was never afraid of Mr. Toynbee,” said Frank, tartly. ‘‘ He was always one of my best friends. I should like to see Toynbee again! I hope he doesn’t think ill of me.” “Do well for yourself, and then he won’t. That’s scriptural, Frank.” ‘T don’t feel as if I ought to. be paying visits and taking holidays when I’ve got no home and no work, and no place for myself in all the wide world,” said Frank, rather drearily. ‘* Now don’t get into the blues,” returned Philip. ‘It’s just the time for a fellow to pay visits, when he can’t invite in return ; and nobody can say you're neglecting your business when you have none to do.” Frank’s face darkened. “Of course, I’m only chaffing you,” Philip added hastily, seeing the cloud. ‘‘ Next to Ravenscourt, is not our house your home? And what is nearer your duty than a little attention to an aunt—your father’s own sister, who would never have been alienated from him but for an influence whose wisdom and kindness you yourself have some cause to doubt ?” Frank did not speak. He knew the allusion was intended for his mother. ; ‘My father is a practical man, too,” Philip went on. ‘‘ He might give you a hint worth getting. He and the mother must have had a hard enough struggle in their own day; and when people once get their eyes well opened they generally keep them so. You can’t do better than come with me, Frank. I really want to go; and I wouldn’t leave you moping here by yourself.” Frank tacitly yielded. “It’s a wonder you are home-sick,” he said to Philip. ‘When you said you did not write to your mother, did you tell an untruth ? ” Philip laughed. ‘“‘Oh dear, no. In our family my father is the general correspondent. I write to him regularly. But one sometimes has to have alittle spar with him about money matters and the like, that one doesn’t want the mother to go crying over, or talking about to the girls. Any more coffee?” “No, thank you.” ‘The governor hinted to me that she got uneasy if he did not show her my letters, and took to fancying I had the croup or some- thing. So I told her I’d always write to her very self if anything of that sort was wrong. Of course, I shouldn’t, you know—not if it was anything serious. But when I get a cold or a headache, I write and tell her so, to maintain the delusion and keep her heart at rest.” “Tm glad I don’t care much for you,” said Frank, with sudden and hearty emphasis. cConniclbooolks (SO)