The Argosy — page 361: what you’re looking at

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

342 Lady Grace. ‘ Never, Charles.” | ‘Were it my case,” spoke Regina, boldly, ‘I should get married at once, and live upon cold mutton and barley water until Charley’s briefs came in more quickly. You may get parted for good if you don’t by some plausible tale or other. One never knows what may happen.” A soft flush lighted Mary’s cheek: cold mutton and barley water bore no doubtful prospect for her. But Charles sighed deeply. He could carry out Regina’s suggestion, and add something to it even, upon his present briefs; he knew that: but, then—how was he to help Cyras ? CHAPTER XVI. THE SUB-DEAN CONDESCENDS. In one of the pleasant rooms at Avon House, its windows open to the lawn, to the scent of the flowers and the sound of the bees, har- bingers of the approaching summer, there stood a group of fair people. We know most of them. Cyras and Charles had travelled down that morning to Great Whitton ; and Charles had whispered to his mother all about Cyras’s prospects of the partnership and of Anna Jansen, and of how he meant to help him. It did not please Lady Grace. Cyras had stepped outside. “Don’t tell me, Charles. I know Cyras. If you help him to-day, he’ll need help again to-morrow.” ‘That is rather unjust, mother mine. Cyras has needed no help from us up to this very day. He did not ask for it now. I think you have always misjudged him a little. You never loved him as you loved me and Gertrude.” | “How could I?” somewhat sharply rejoined Lady Grace. ‘¢ Another loved him more than all if I did not—his father.” ‘Well, I feel that we ought to help him to this chance, mother,” said Charles. ‘‘I will do my part to it, and perhaps Uncle Henry will do the rest. It seems to me to lie in our duty—at least, in mine. Come hither, Gertrude ; tell mamma what your opinion is: you have been listening to our conversation.” Gertrude Baumgarten came forward, a tenderness in her blue eyes. She knelt at her mother’s knee—a half-playful, half-fond position she had always rather favoured—and spoke in a low, sweet tone. ‘T have been listening, as Charles says, mamma. I am sure he considers it right that this help should be given to Cyras.” ‘ And what is your opinion, Gertrude?” demanded Lady Grace. ‘They are both your brothers ; Charles in a nearer degree than Cyras.” ‘* My opinion is, that it would be a sin not to help Cyras. If Charles is willing to do so, why oppose it, mamma? I only wish,” she earnestly added, ‘‘ that it was in my power to do it.” ECORNIECLIOOKS. Com