The Argosy — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

A The Village Blacksmith. would never put one of these short surplices on. She was therefore neither surprised nor shocked when the following Sunday Mr. Ryot- Tempest appeared in the reading-desk in the black gown which he wore when he preached, chiefly because it had been worn by his pre- decessor, and he was very conservative in all his ways. Mrs. Ryot- Tempest was amazed, and the shock to her nervous system was so great that before the Psalms were concluded she collapsed and was obliged to leave the church. But she looked so exceedingly unlike fainting that Vera did not think it incumbent on her to follow her ; particularly as she knew the black gown was the cause of her indis- position, When Mr. Ryot-Tempest returned from church, he found his wife lying on the sofa, a gold-topped smelling-bottle on her lap, and a bottle of eau-de-cologne by her side. ‘© My dear Poppy, are you ill?” ‘The heat overpowered me, but I am feeling better. Ryot, what possessed you to appear in church in that dreadful black gown?” “That dreadful black gown, my dear Poppy, is, you are aware, the only legal vestment. Still, I should have conformed to the usual custom and worn my surplice, had I not discovered that by some mistake my night-shirt had been substituted for my surplice. No doubt the laundress is the culprit.” Your night-shirt, Ryot ! how can you be so ridiculous! Your night-shirts are not made of French cambric. Has my week’s work met with no better return than this? Your surplices were simply intolerable ; they would be absurd on a man six feet high ; on you they were ridiculous. So I have altered them all for you, and made them the proper length, and I hope you'll wear one this evening, and preach in it.” ‘But, my dear Poppy, surely if that was a surplice, it is much too short. It is like a Roman Catholic priest’s surplice; it really is. I— I—should be afraid my congregation will think I am not a safe man if I wear it.” ‘Nonsense, Ryot. I insist. And mind you discard that black gown and preach in your surplice for the future, like everyone else.” “No, Poppy, no. Let us compromise the matter. I'll wear the surplice in the reading-desk, to please you ; but you must let me wear the black gown in the pulpit, to please myself and the congregation who are used to it.” ‘We need not discuss it any further now, please ; my head aches. I am not equal to an argument. I am disappointed that my week’s work has had so little result.” “Don’t say that! It has had one result: it has shown me how much you are interested in my work.” ‘Yes; Tam indeed. Ryot, I hardly like to ask you, but would you mind having daily service in future? I—I—miss it so very much; and though, of course, one should not act from worldly CONMIGO KS (E(0)