The Argosy — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

60 Mrs. Carr’s Companion. CHAPTER XI. THE VICAR OF ST. JUDE'S. Ir anything could have added to the already brimming cup of Lady Mary’s satisfaction it was a letter in an unfamiliar handwriting, which she found awaiting her on the breakfast-table next morning. The contents were a complete surprise to her, but a pleasant one, as was evident from the well-pleased smile with which she laid it by. She ate her breakfast thoughtfully, but with a subdued air of elation which would have puzzled her daughters if they had happened to observe it. But Olive was languid and silent this morning, and Rose absent and pre-occupied as, perhaps, became a maiden on the verge of mar- riage. ‘““My dear, I want to speak to you,” said Lady Mary, detaining Viola as she was leaving the dining-room. ‘Olive, will you go and keep your aunt company for half an hour P” Lady Mary led the way to her own sitting-room, where they would be undisturbed, and taking Viola’s hand drew her down to a seat on the sofa beside her. ‘‘ Miss Keith, I have just heard some good news concerning a friend of ours. Mr. Vaughan has been appointed to the vacant living of St. Jude’s.” Time was when the announcement would have fallen upon very indifferent ears, but it happened that during the last two or three weeks, Viola, having volunteered to fill Olive’s place at the schools and with her poor people, who sorely missed her visits, had been brought much into contact with the young curate. Her exclamation of pleasure was therefore hearty and sincere. ‘Indeed! I am very glad to hear it. He has worked so hard here !” ‘“Ah! you have seen a great deal of him lately, have you not ?” ‘‘We have met several times at the schools and in the district, while I have been taking Olive’s work. He is very much liked by the people.” “Ves; he isa truly estimable man. Both the Archdeacon and myself think very highly of him.” Lady Mary glanced at Viola and, finding that she remained silent, continued: ‘He wrote at once to tell me of his good fortune, enclosing a note, which he begged me to give you, asking me at the same time to use my influence in his favour.” ‘Influence! Favour! What can he mean?” With a face of utter bewilderment Viola received the note from Lady Mary, and, breaking it open in leisurely fashion, began to read. But before she had reached the end of the first page, the colour ebbed from her face and the paper dropped from her hands. Lady Mary, noticing her agitation, kindly tried to reassure her. ‘My dear, let me congratulate you on having won the heart of so CORMIEMOOOKS Conn