The Argosy — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Raven's Temptation. 83 ‘What on earth are you talking about?” interrupted Philip. ‘“ How did you make a fool of yourself? As to its being rather hard, it is confoundedly hard. And Id have said. so, downright, my- self ’”—and the young barrister smoked emphatically. ‘But as for your having to get a living, it must be mere stuff and nonsense!” “Tt might have been better, if I had spoken out at once, too,” said Frank, meekly. ‘Instead of that, I kept it rankling within me. And when Leonard began to speak of my future course—quite naturally and properly, and it was very kind of him—then I felt it as if he were giving me a stab; and I flew into a.rage, and out came my bitterness. All at the wrong time, and under the wrong circum- stances.” ‘‘And then?” prompted Philip, for Frank paused. * And then the end of it is,” said poor-Frank, desperately, “I feel I must begin to depend on my own resources. And I don’t know what they are! If I did, I should not mind. anything else,” he added, thinking of that lonely little governess, and the brave face she turned on her self-dependent life. Long and long the cousins talked, drawn up ade by side at the narrow window, within hearing of the hum of mighty London, and’ miles and miles away from quiet Ravenscourt, with the birds’ nests in the old oaks standing round it. When Philip had heard the whole history, he acknowledged that it was quite natural in Frank to have made that rash resolution, not to be obliged to them for money; he might have made it Air self, but then he was sure he should have intended to keep it in the spirit rather than the letter. He felt certain that Mrs. Raven would never permit such a course: he knew what mothers were. Frank might make believe to take his own way, if he liked; he would have to give it up in the end, to save her from breaking her heart. And then Frank felt that though he had striven hard to tell his story truly, yet something had escaped in the telling. And he was glad of it. The heart knows its own bitterness, and is well satisfied to hide it. Philip kept up his argument. ‘Would Frank have held to his word, had he vowed to burn down Ravenscourt, church, vicarage, and village P” | “No,” said Frank, turning upon him brightly. “It is to one’s honour to repent of ways that must injure others. But when we think we see what is right to do, we have no right to draw back because we find how hard it 1s.’ *Yours—what I gather of them—are fine ideas,” said Philip Connell, thoughtfully. ‘The worst of it is, that it takes money to keep themup. They suited you at Ravenscourt, no doubt. But if you carry them into any profession, I don’t know how you'll get on. If one has to make one’s way in the world, one must walk through a little dirt, and never mind the splashes !” “EONnnIClOO© Ss (SO)