The Argosy — page 254: what you’re looking at

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

The Missing Rubies. 237 value of the necklace. You don’t know that Mr. Corder has taken him by the hand, and is helping him to get on in the world?” ‘Mr, Corder!” echoed Jane, with a little shudder. ‘‘ That vulgar old man !” “He is not vulgar. He is quick-sighted, and honourable, and true. When you all turned your backs upon your dead brother’s only child, he believed in him, and rescued him from poverty and despair. Your hearts have hardened against the little boy who played at your knees, and lisped his first words into your ears. But he is not utterly forsaken.” Jane Earle’s lips were quivering, and tears had begun to trickle over her wax-like cheeks. She had rested her basket of flowers on the edge of the parapet, but her trembling fingers lost their hold upon the handle, and it fell into the stream. “Think what he must have suffered,” Beatrice went on. ‘No, you cannot think. Only God knows how bitter that suffering was. I shall go home as quickly as I can—I do not want Mr. Redburn’s money. I want Godwin; that is all.” There was a moment’s pause, filled up by the loud singing of the merry stream. And then Jane Earle began to speak in a tremulous voice. ““T have always loved the poor boy,” she said. ‘ But what could — we say or do—Dorothy and I? He offered to take charge of the necklace ; that was the worst part of it all; that is what Caroline cannot forget. And we thought—we feared—that he had deposited it with some one who would lend him money on it. Those things are often done, I believe, when men are in distress; but I do not understand such transactions. It is all too hard for me. Poor dear Godwin, I have never forgotten him. Give him my love, and say . that his aunt Jane prays for him every night.” ‘Bid me say that you believe in him. That would be a greater comfort,” answered Beatrice softly. The old lady lifted her hand with a helpless gesture. “TI don’t know whether I ought to believe in him or not. But, yes, yes—say anything that you think right. I like you for loving him so well. What a spirit you have! You would even have dared to say all this to Caroline. There is no one near; and I will kiss you, my dear, just for poor Godwin’s sake.” Beatrice stepped nearer to the poor, shaken old woman, and received and returned her kiss. No sooner was the little ceremony over, than Jane bethought herself of all that was due to her position as a Miss Earle. Supposing any of the townsfolk should come along, and find her crying on the | bridge! She had a vague fear that her mantle was twisted, and her bonnet all awry. And then there was the loss of the basket— Dorothy’s own favourite basket. What would they think when she went home, and confessed that she had dropped it into the stream? CORINELMO© (SO)