The Argosy — page 346: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Raven's Temptation. 323 She went straight to the dining-room, Frank following her. A solitary decanter, with a little wine in it, stood on the sideboard. Possibly Evelyn did not think it looked very attractive, or she wished to offer Frank a choice of wines. For she opened the wine-cooler, and looked in. But it was empty. ‘¢T know how that is,” said Frank, watching her. ‘‘ Budd is making a clearance of everything, that all may be started fresh and full for the festival of Christmas dinner! Poor old Budd will stick to his traditions! Kindly pour me out the wine there 1s.” Evelyn obeyed. And as she handed him the glass, he noticed that her hand trembled. “‘1’m afraid you are not so much better as you seem,” he said ; ‘while I am a selfish wretch, making an unnecessary fuss over myself.” At that moment James Sloam came in, bearing the great silver salver. ‘You may as well take these away with you,” Evelyn said, handing the boy the empty decanter and glass. There was to be only one guest at dinner—the Vicar—whose in- vitation had been issued long before Leonard’s last attack. But this morning Mrs. Raven had sent Mr. Toynbee an intimation that she trusted he would not allow their fresh calamity to deprive them of the solace and cheer of his society. Frank had two or three hours at his disposal before dressing for dinner. He felt suddenly weary and drowsy. Perhaps there was little wonder in that. Going to his own chamber, he lay down. He must have sunk to sleep then and there, for he remembered no more, nor had he the least idea whether he had slept for hours or moments, when he was awakened, with a sudden start, by the sound of a violent crash in the hall below. He sat upright. He heard many feet running. Then a woman’s voice spoke sharply, and there were sounds as of the picking up and gathering of fragments. Clearly it was only one of those domestic accidents which seemed predestined to happen on occasions when the best family china and glass are brought out. Frank had only time to hope that the accident would neither shock Leonard’s unconsciousness nor startle his nurses, when he became aware that his own room seemed rapidly spinning round him, and. that his couch had apparently taken on the motion of a boat. In another moment he was deadly sick. The sickness was short as it was violent. He lay back trembling, and with a singular sensation of weakness, but entirely relieved from his drowsiness and giddiness. He lay so for some time. He remembered afterwards that he dreamily wondered whether people recovering from falls or from drowning might not feel much as he did. As the trembling subsided, and a little strength returned, he bethought him of the hour: to his surprise, he found it only wanted half an hour to dinner-time. CONnRICOOOKS.EO