Roxy Hastings — page 159: what you’re looking at

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

150 ROXY HASTINGS. “There’s. mamma, serene as usual,” said Henrietta. “She has no fears about the security, nor anything else, I believe. What do you think, mamma? Can we get it?” “Oh, yes; I presume so.” ‘“And how soon can we go? Do let us get away before we waste any more money paying these high prices here. Then, perhaps, we'll have a little left to get ourselves something decent. Look at that bonnet! I can’t do any- thing with it. I’ve been at work on it all the morning.” ‘“Go and get a new one, Netty, and you also, Nelly,” said the mother, handing out her purse. The girls looked up surprised and incredulous. Netty took the purse, laughing, and said: ‘““There’s nothing in it, I know.” But it was quite weli filled with money, which had been kept ready to pay the semi-monthly board bill, due the next day. ‘‘Mamma! Are you in earnest?” ‘Quite so.” ‘‘How high may we go?” | ‘“What do the best cost this fall?” a ‘The best! Oh, it’s useless to talk about the best. Such a one as Miss Gobleigh had—oh! what a love it was !—is at least twenty dollars. But I think we can get them for twelve, if—if that isn’t too much.” ‘“Get Gobleigh bonnets, my dears, by all means,” said the widow, laughing, as, taking back the purse, she handed them forty dollars out of it, ‘‘and stop in at Stewart’s while you are out and look at some silks and poplins for dresses. To-morrow I will go with you and buy them.” The half crazed girls threw their arms about their mother’s neck and kissed her, and then hastily made themselves ready to go out, yet without ceasing to exclaim and wonder. ‘“We’ll astonish the Nyackers,” said Nelly; “‘won’t we, Netty ?” ‘“Not more than we are astonished ourselves, I guess,” said Netty, laughing. ‘“‘I am sure mamma must have drawn a prize in a lottery.” The bonnets were bought after many exciting discus- sions and much running to and from the milliner’s, but they were, of course, taken back for some alterations of the flowers to suit the complexion of the wearers. So much time was consumed in these negotiations that the shopping for dresses was postponed until the next day, and in the afternoon, when the excitement of the young ladies had Eomicboo <0)