The Argosy — page 194: what you’re looking at

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

Lady Valera. 177 “My child, you should have sent for me,” exclaimed Eustace, hastening to help her and bring her in to the Vicarage, where Mrs. Damien left her, followed by de Cressy. “No. You must not come to our house,” replied Elsie, with great solemn eyes of mystery. ‘‘ Never again. You are in danger, fearful danger, Mr. Stannard, and I have come to warn you.” Her voice shook with the weight of the words she uttered. She fixed her eyes on the Vicar and nodded her head with portentous meaning. He would not have laughed for the world, and looked as much impressed as she could wish. ‘‘] am very sorry to hear that, Miss Paramount. You are a brave little friend to come to my aid. Who is my enemy?” Her colour came and went, and her thin fingers interlaced them- selves nervously. ‘‘ Oh, I am so sorry and so ashamed !” she broke forth, after a struggle. “It’s father!” Mr. Stannard knitted his brows in dire perplexity. He had a cer- tain liking and much respect for good Mr. Paramount, and was honestly surprised at his antagonism. ‘You must be mistaken,” he said, gently. ‘‘ I have never done any harm to your father, and he could do none to me, even if he wished i ‘Oh, but others could,” said Elsie, shaking her head with a gloomy triumph, “‘if he chose to make them. He says there’s law, and the Bishop can help him.” ‘My dear child,” Eustace began impatiently, then checked himself. “ Mr. Paramount is too good a man to do me any wilful wrong, I am sure, and I promise you solemnly I will do none to him. Iam just as grateful to you as if there had been real danger, though.” ‘And are you sure nothing very dreadful is going to happen ?” asked Elsie, with rather a disappointed inflection in her voice. ‘Nothing. Now cheer up, and lke a wise little girl try and tell roe if there is anything I can do to show him how much I wish to be friends.” ‘Tf it wasn’t for the Galleries!” sighed she. ‘What Galleries? Do you mean those in the Church? They are unsafe you know. ‘They ought to have been renewed or pulled down years ago.” “He won’t believe it!” she went on more disconsolately. ‘He says it’s all of a piece with the rest of the Innovations—‘ the thin end of the wedge ;’ and the—the Doles and the bread.” ‘‘T imputed no dishonesty to him or anyone, you may remember; but I should have been wanting in common honesty myself if I had not called attention to the scandalous misappropriation of the parish charities. Don’t you see that?” ‘Tt cast reflections on father all the same,” deplored Elsie, aggra- vatingly obtuse. Then suddenly melting: ‘‘ Don’t think too hardly of father, please, sir. I think sometimes—” and her voice sank into an COMmMicoooks (S©) im