The Argosy — page 364: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Raven's Temptation. 341 “Very many thanks, sir, I’m sure,” she answered gratefully. ““There’s no reason why he shouldn’t begin to do something this very night, for indeed it’s the sooner the better.” Mr. Connell was reflective as they walked back. This was an op- portunity for an inquiry which he felt might be instituted with Mr. ‘Toynbee. ‘Frank was always a healthy child, I believe?” he said. ‘‘ Did you know any of the other infants who died 2—You were here before Frank’s birth ? ” “Oh yes,” answered Mr. Toynbee; “and I baptized all the others, privately and in great haste—they died so soon—they were so clearly doomed. One died too soon even for that.” ‘“What doctor attended the family in those days?” “Dr. Wragge; this Dr. Wragge’s father. ‘The Wragges have at- tended the Ravens for two or three generations.” ‘‘And I suppose the doctor introduced a nurse?” said Mr. Con- nell again. | “Yes; always,” Mr. Toynbee readily replied. ‘‘ Not always in time, though. I remember thinking how odd it was that the only healthy baby of the lot came into the world with the least attendance and the least fuss, in a half-unexpected sort of way.” “What! was that Frank?” asked Mr. Connell, breathless. “Ves,” narrated the Vicar. ‘‘ His birth was attended only by the | old woman, Charity Hale—not so old then, of course, as she is now. I think that accounted for her having been always so fond of him, baby, boy,and man. Acurious woman, Charity Hale. Im specially disposed to respect an old family servant, but I can’t like this Charity. She’s an embittered sort of soul. Perhaps she suffered in her sister’s disgrace. It was her sister Salome, you know, who was Eldred Sloam’s mother—she died but a day or two before Squire Eldred.” “Does Charity take much interest in her unfortunate relative, Eldred Sloam?” asked the Minister. “No,” said Mr. Toynbee; “she has behaved to him as if she had some severe duty towards him that must perforce be performed. But she was certainly good to the lad who now lies dead yonder. A short, sad life he has had, as had his mother, poor Jane, before him. But I could never altogether pity her. Women have no right to fall in love with such a man as Eldred Sloam.” ‘“‘I] suppose Charity Hale has few connections outside the Court ?” “Old servants generally merge their lives in their masters’, and drop their own people,” returned Mr. Toynbee. ‘I think the Hale girls were orphans—perhaps not very carefully brought up, poor things, and that may partly account for Salome’s downfall. There was a third sister—younger, I think—who never came near the Court. Charity boasted of this other sister as being an educated lady. What odd tricks our memories play us!” he added, with a half-laugh. ‘ When I have forgotten so much which I have striven hard to retain, why GOMIGIOOKS (CO)