The Argosy — page 209: what you’re looking at

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i 192 The Village Blacksmith. doubt as to the goal of either Mark Brown or Mrs. Ryot-Tempest ; and as she made her way to the drawing-room, she decided to warn that lady of the fate that awaited her if she persisted in her present course. “Tf it were not for Miss Vera, I would not trouble my head about her ; she might go her own way as fast as she liked, for I am sure Heaven will be a much pleasanter place without her, and there is not the slightest doubt she has booked for the other place,” said Mrs. Canter to herself, as she threw open the drawing-room door and without any further ceremony entered the room and went straight to her point. ‘Good morning, Mrs. Tempest. I daresay you are more sur- prised than pleased to see me, but I have two or three things to say to you, so I walked in after I left the master. And first of all let me tell you, madam, you are killing him ; there is death in his face ; it is not a twelvemonth since you buried your first husband ; you'll have to bury your second before the year is out if you don’t take care,” began Mrs. Canter, forgetting her stops entirely. ‘‘ Fave the kindness to leave this room directly, Mrs. Canter ; what do these servants mean by admitting youre” said Mrs. Ryot- Tempest with an angry flush. ‘They did not admit me, ma'am; I admitted myself; and the next thing I have to say is, I am prepared to swear before the magistrates that Miss Vera has walked in her sleep from a child,” persisted Mrs. Canter with her hands folded in front of her, holding the still unfolded handkerchief between them. ‘That will not prove that she was doing so on the night of the robbery. Besides, I have no doubt you would swear black is white for her sake,” coolly remarked Mrs. Ryot-Tempest. ‘No, ma’am, I would not; I would not swear you ever spoke the truth in your life to save my own soul,” replied Mrs. Canter glibly. 5 ‘Once more, will you have the kindness to leave me? This insolence is unbearable,” said Mrs. Ryot-Tempest, rising and ring- ing: the bell violently. .. $I am going directly, ma’am, when I have warned you that if you persist in accusing Miss Vera of stealing those diamonds, which, for my part, I don’t believe are stolen at all, you’ll kill the master, and then, whether you die in your bed or not there is no doubt where you will go to. And if you think Captain Raleigh will believe a word against Miss Vera, you are very much mistaken; for he told me his opinion of her and of you too before he left England. Good afternoon, ma’am.” And Mrs. Canter retreated from the battle-field with a proud sense of victory glowing in her breast, just as the butler — answered the bell. ‘Never admit that insolent woman again, Baines, on any pretext whatever,” said Mrs. Ryot-Tempest angrily to the astonished butler, who had heard the latter part of Mrs. Canter’s remarks. | GoOmiGbsooks.com |