The Argosy — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

The Village Blacksnuth. Q7 faction, he proceeded to the object of his visit—to thank Captain Raleigh for killing the mad dog, and to gain an exact account of what had taken place. But in this he failed; for all he could get out of Captain Raleigh was admiration of Vera’s conduct in trying to save the child, and blame of his own stupidity in breaking her parasol, till Mr. Ryot Tempest inwardly cursed the parasol, and regretted that his cloth did not allow him to do so aloud. We have said before that Mr. Ryot Tempest possessed the feminine vice of curiosity, and as he was intensely anxious to know all about Captain Raleigh, it is perhaps unnecessary to add that he did not rise to leave until he had gratified his curiosity. When he did go, he had discovered the following facts with regard to him :— Captain Raleigh was one of ¢A4e Raleighs. He was an only son; his father was dead, his mother lived in Norfolk, and he was returning there the next day; he was now home from India on sick-leave, having had asunstroke; he had been making a little tour in Normandy, but his state of health prevented him from doing much, and he ought to have gone home a week ago, had he felt equal to the journey. He did not add that interest in Vera had induced him to prolong his stay to the last day ; but this was the truth. Neither did he volunteer the information that he was of the same religion as Mrs. Ryot Tempest. Had he done so, he would not have been invited to Woodford if he were ever in that part of England, which invitation Mr. Ryot Tempest gave him before he took his leave. : The next morning a loveiz bouquet of hothouse flowers was brought to Vera with Captain Raleigh’s compliments, and on the back of his card, which was tied to the flowers, was written ‘ Au revoir.” An hour later Captain Raleigh left Avranches, but he left his heart behind him. ) CHAPTER V., “oH! THAT THOSE LIPS HAD LANGUAGE !” We left Mark Brown on Whitsun-eve in a very devotional frame of .mind, contemplating baptism by immersion the next day, and antici- pating great pleasure from the tea-meeting on Monday, when he, being the hero of the hour, would doubtless receive much attention and flattery from the Baptist connection, and would, he trusted, thus have a favourable opportunity for declaring his passion for Janet to that young woman. Consequently, he returned to his Saturday’s work in excellent spirits. To say that the thought of Janet left but little room for meditation on his spiritual affairs, notwithstanding his profession of penitence to Reuben, is only to say that Mark was human ; and as he cleaned the carriage and stable, the thought ot Janet’s perfections cather than his own sins occupied his mind. CoOnniclboooks im