The Argosy — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

6 The Village Blacksmith. ‘Vou can please yourself about that. I will not allow you to go scampering about the country without an escort, like some farmer’s wife,” said Mrs. Ryot-Tempest angrily. Vera was angry, too, as her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes told ; but she had no intention of yielding, for Norah had warned her on no account to ride out with Mark if her father kept him after hearing of his cruel conduct to Reuben Foreman. ‘‘T shall appeal to my father,” said Vera, fastening her horse to a nail in the porch; and then gathering up her habit she ran hghtly into the house to Mr. Ryot-Tempest’s study. The Rector was sitting by his writing-table with his Peerage open in front of him, on his right hand lay his Lempriére, on the left his Bible. He looked up as Vera entered, and listened impatiently to her just but animated statement of her case. ‘Why do you object to ride with Mark if your—your—if your step-mother wishes it ?” stammered Mr. Ryot-Tempest. ‘Because I hate him, and I won't allow him to accompany me. He is a wicked man, papa, and I wish you would get rid of him. Norah says he is mad with jealousy and anger since Janet married. He nearly killed poor Reuben by his wickedness. ‘That relapse was all Mark’s fault.” : ‘“Nonsense, my dear; nonsense: that is an exaggeration of Norah’s.” “No, papa, it is not. You never will believe anything against Mark. But will you decide what is to be done, please P Am I to be deprived of my favourite recreation to please Mrs. Tempest ? ” “My dear Vera, ‘Mrs. Tempest’ is so very formal,” interrupted the Rector. ‘What am I to call her, then? I can’t say Poppy,” said Vera. Mr. Ryot-Tempest did not know what to reply to this question, so he wisely said nothing. He had considered the matter in the night- watches, but no other mode of address had suggested itself. ‘‘T have always ridden alone,” continued Vera, ‘‘ and if I give up riding, my headaches are sure to come on.” Mr. Ryot-Tempest put his hand to his own head and looked so careworn and distressed that Vera regretted having appealed to him, and resolved in future to fight her own battles. *T will ride with you to-day, and we will see what arrangements can be made in future,” he said at last; and Vera, knowing her step- mother’s influence was too strong for him to resist, felt sure that her rides would be stopped. For strange to say, Mrs. Ryot-Tempest had taken a violent fancy to Mark Brown, and would be sure to insist on his accompanying her. Mrs. Ryot-Tempest was really very angry when her husband came out and dismissing Mark and the cob sent for his own pony, but she was much too clever to show it. She smiled her sweetest smile as she kissed her husband, and said ina reproving tone: CORNICE OOOKS (E(0)