The Argosy — page 187: what you’re looking at

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

170 The Mystery of Allan Grale. much fellow-feeling on a certain family trouble which she never dared even to mention to Mr. Grale or Mary Anne. “ Well,—well,—well,” she sighed. ‘“ Poor Marget and I haven’t shared life fairly between us. She has had all the hard work and hard fare, and one name on a grave, and one name that isn’t any- where! And yet she-was always the best of us two sisters, though not counted the best looking; and Mr. Gibson was known to be so good and clever when she married him, a man sure to get on. But he did not. And there’s me with a carriage of my own, and children that I may well be proud of.” Allan sprang rather suddenly from his seat near his mother, crossed the room, and stood looking out of the window. ‘“‘T’ve got nothing more to wish for, my dear, except to see you and Mary Anne both well married,” pursued Mrs. Grale, after wiping a tear from her eye. ‘‘ And there was a time when I thought you and Miss. Vivian quite understood each other, Alny. But perhaps it’s as well it wasn’t so, if Mr. George Vivian is looking Mary Anne’s way, which seems likely. For I don’t believe in families being too much muddled up together.” A brief silence ensued. Then Allan spoke with a change of voice, and an entire change of subject. ‘‘ Mother, how is old Nurse Kate ?” This was an ancient servant of the Grale family, now living ina cottage situated between Moorland Hall and Dering Court. She was not a pensioner on the Grales, having savings of her own, but Mrs. Grale was in the habit of showing her many little attentions. “Why ; what put her into your head ?” asked Mrs. Grale, thinking that this dear son of hers was indeed growing very considerate. ‘‘O, Nurse Kate is quite well. I haven’t been to her cottage since we came from the country—but she was up here the other day.” “Well, as I should enjoy a stroll this lovely afternoon,” said Allan, “TI think ll go to see her.” “You'll make her a proud and happy woman, if you do, Alny. You were always her favourite.” ‘But I must take her something,” he said. “Take her anything you like, dear,” rejoined his mother. “TI pro- mised her some cuttings for her garden. You can get them from the gardener. But don’t take them: tell her you are sending them.” “No, [ll take them myself,” returned Allan. ‘Politeness of that kind is the best part of a gift.” He hated himself as he said this, knowing there was double-dealing in his own mind. _“ Well, you can take your choice of the hampers you'll find in the store closet,” said Mrs. Grale. “ve got in some new ones, and | have had ‘G’ painted on them, so that when I send them about I may be sure of getting my own new ones returned, instead of other people’s old ones. I think you'll find one or two small enough.” ‘““T won’t take a very small one,” said Allan. “‘ I must take the old lady a bouncing gift: and young Grale of Moorland Hall and the EOMIGCIOOKS CO) m