The Argosy — page 262: what you’re looking at

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

Rete AO G:-O.S Y.. OCTOBER, 7882. faieo. RAVEN’S TEMPTATION. BY THE AUTHOR OF “DR. HARDY’S MARRIAGE.” CHAPTER XXXV. A TELEGRAM FROM THE COURT. HE shades of the October afternoon had gathered on the Temple when Philip Connell quitted his chambers for Miss Agate’s house, arm-in-arm with Frank. The London twilight seemed intoler- ably thick and sultry after the comparative freshness round the paternal domain of the Connells, even in dirty Coltburn. The lamp was already lit in Miss Agate’s parlour, but the curtains were not yet drawn, and as the cousins drew near the house, they got a full view of the quaint interior. Miss Agate sat at her writing table, her clasped hands lying on a huge volume open before her. She was talking earnestly, yet with that calmness which is always the sign of intensest feeling in women of her type, to her attendant, Mary Davies. Davies was not standing in her usual humble, deprecating attitude, but was sitting in a chair, with bent figure, as if some burden of grief or terror had crushed all ceremony out of her. ‘‘T wonder what is up,” whispered Philip as he rang the bell, which was not answered so promptly as usual, and it was Miss Agate herself who opened the door at last. She brought her accustomed bright, yet wistful face to welcome them. | ‘‘T am so glad to see you,” she said. ‘Oh, so glad!” She walked before them into the little parlour, empty then. “Tf there has been anything troubling you, Miss Agate,” said Philip, ‘‘ you should have let me know about it at once.” He spoke with simple sincerity. He had a deeper regard for the little lady than she realised. Gertrude Agate never expected anything for herself from anybody. “Tt has only happened lately,” she answered. ‘What is it? Nothing wrong with your brother, I trust?” VOL, XXXIV. R COMmMicoooks (CO)