The Argosy — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

2 Lady Grace. have said more than once,” observed the younger, bending down to adjust something in the carriage, that her sudden heightening of colour might pass unnoticed. “It 1s impossible that Mr. Chester should last long, and you could get Henry to give him the living.” “Grace, you talk like a child. Valuable livings are not given away so easily : neither are men without connections inducted to them. I never heard that young Baumgarten had any connections; not as much as a father or mother, even: he does not speak of his family. No; the most sensible plan would be for Mr. Chester to turn off that muff of a curate, and take on Baumgarten in his stead.” The young lady threw back her head. ‘‘Rectors don’t give up their preferments to subside into curates, mamma.” “Unless it is made well worth their while,” returned the elder, in a matter-of-fact tone; ‘and old Chester might make it worth Mr. Baumegarten’s.” ‘Mr. Chester ought to retire. For my part, I cannot imagine how these old clergy can persist in remaining in their livings.” “ The clergy must grow old as well as other people, my dear.’ “Tam not speaking of age so much as of failing faculties. Some men older than Mr. Chester are as capable of fulfilling their duties as ever they were. But Mr. Chester 1s not.” The young lady received no answer to this, and they went along in silence. ‘“ Mamma!” she exclaimed, when they were about a mile on the road, “we never called to inquire after Mrs. Danes “T did not think of doing so.” “ J did. I shall go back again. James The boy, without slackening his speed, half turned on his horse. My lady?” ““ When you come to the corner, drive down the lane and go back to the cottage.” He touched his cap and looked forward again, and Lady Grace sank back in the carriage. “You might have consulted me first, Grace,” grumbled the Countess of Avon. “And why do you choose the longer way, round by the lane?” “ The lane is shady, mamma, and the afternoon sunny : to prolong our drive will do you good.” Lady Grace laughed as she spoke, and it would have taken one deeper in penetration than the Lady Avon had ever been to divine that all had been done with a preconcerted plan: that when her daughter drove from the church door, she had fully intended to proceed part of the way home, and then go back again. Lady Grace Carmel had rather a strong will, which had been fostered by indulgence, for she was an only daughter. We must notice another of the congregation, one who had left the church by a different door. It was a young lady of two or three and ) | 7? CORNIECLOOOKS.E© im