The Argosy — page 378: what you’re looking at

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

The Village Blacksmith. 357 “Come back to bed,” said the Prioress, gently taking one of Vera’s hands in hers and giving the candle she had picked up to the other nun. Her touch seemed to calm the sleeping girl, though it did not wake her; and she submitted to be led back to her room, sighing and sobbing as she went. Here the two nuns undressed her and put her to bed without waking her ; but they were afraid to leave her alone, lest she should walk again; so they took it in turns to sit by her side until the bell rang for the nuns to rise, when they thought her safe. Vera slept till nine o’clock and was then awakened by one of the lay sisters, who brought her her breakfast and a message that the Mother-Prioress wished to see her when she was dressed. Wonder- ing what this could mean, and half afraid she was to be reproved for her late rising, Vera made haste over her breakfast and toilette. While she was thus occupied she noticed that the white serge habit, which had been in her room the night before, was gone, the Prioress having taken it away ; but though surprised at this, Vera had not the slightest recollection of what had happened during the night and was amazed when the Prioress told her. ‘Did all the nuns see me?” she asked. “Yes; thirty-four of us can bear witness to your somnambulism ; but as we can’t go to England to give our evidence, I am not sure that it will be of much use.” “ Oh, yes, it will! It will convince Father Ambrose and my father and Captain Raleigh ; and I don’t care what the rest of the world believes about me very much,” said Vera. Father Ambrose returned to Avranches a few days later, and his first action on arriving was to go and see Vera and tell her about the trial, and Captain Raleigh’s arrival in England, and his meeting with her in her disguise. ‘**'You were very near being severely punished for that freak ; but see, I have brought you some letters: one from Raleigh and one from your father,” said Father Ambrose ; and Vera was soon too much occupied with her letters to think of anything else. Whilst she was reading them the Prioress came in and gave the priest an account of Vera’s sleep-walking in the cloisters, and received a slight reproof for not having written to him directly it happened and told him of it. “It is most important evidence. I must telegraph to Raleigh and the Archdeacon, and say thirty-four people have seen her walking in her sleep ; details to follow by letter. Vera is by no means out of this scrape yet. Mark Brown’s case comes before the bench next Tuesday ; but even if his perjury is proved, Vera’s innocence is not established until the diamonds are found.” “Qh, I am so happy,” interrupted Vera. ‘‘ My father has given his consent to my engagement, and as soon as this case is settled we CORNICLIOO cS (SO) mn