The Argosy — page 365: what you’re looking at

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

342 Mrs. Raven’s Temptation. do I chance to remember the names of those three sisters Hale— only one of whom I ever saw—Salome, Charity, and Isabella? They tickled my fancy somehow. I wondered how their godfathers and godmothers had crossed the Rubicon between old-fashioned ‘ Bible names’ and that of ballad and romance.” As the gentlemen entered the hall, bad news met them. Leonard had had another convulsive seizure without any return to conscious- ness, Or apparent cause for agitation; he now seemed sinking fast, and might not survive the night. The ministers clung together, as people always do when sur- rounded by troubles with which they cannot contend. Budd stirred up the fire in the big dining-room, and brought out bottles of good old wine. But though every now and then they tried to divert their conversation to affairs political or, ecclesiastical, it would not do. An intense atmosphere of personal tragedy pervaded the place, and pressed upon them. And the only event of the evening was the arrival of Philip’s answer to his father’s telegram. It ran: “Will be with you to-morrow morning. Miss Agate cannot leave her brother, but I bring E. A.’s nearest friend, also legal} assistance.” CHAPTER XLIV. A LETTER FROM THE DEAD. AFTER the fashion of people in times of trouble, Mr. Connell and Mr. Toynbee (who did not leave the Court) sat up far into the night, and were up betimes in the morning. Both were dressing when Budd came knocking at their doors, to tell them that “‘ Mr. Philip Connell and the people from London had arrived.” He also acquainted them anew with the position of things. ‘‘ Mr. Leonard is no better—is as bad as bad can be. But Mr. Frank is going on admirably, and the doctors say there’s no more fear for him.” As for the visitors from London, there was a gentleman with a black bag, whom Budd thought he had seen before. Then there was Mr. Philip himself, and there was a poor-looking woman who was crying and seemed frightened. Mrs. Sims busied herself in get- ting them breakfast.” The two gentlemen had wondered what Philip meant by the phrase of ‘her nearest friend,” as referring to Evelyn Agate. But certainly they were not prepared for what Philip whispered to them, as witha slight gesture he indicated the woman, when all were assembling for business after breakfast. ‘This is Evelyn Agate’s mother. This new mystery has already unravelled an old one. For more than twenty years this person has acted as Miss Agate’s servant,” Philip added. ‘* We have known her by the name of Mary Davies,” COPMICLMIOO KS On)