Roxy Hastings — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

152 ROXY HASTINGS. ‘‘Tt will look so strange,” said Nelly. ‘‘But there is no one here who knows us. Come on,” re- plied the mother. They entered, and having locked themselves in, com- menced a survey of the premises. Everything was perfect. Nothing could be handsomer nor in better taste than the furniture. The rich tapestry carpets, the immense mirrors, the lace and damask cur- tains, the elegantly carved rosewood chairs, sofas and piano, and countless minor articles, by turns elicited the admiration of the ladies as they wandered through. the large parlors, three deep, under lofty ceilings, and great far-branching chandeliers. Throughout the house all was in keeping, and when all had been explored and admired, the party returned to the parlor, where Nelly threw herself into a large chair and said : ‘‘I’m sorry we’ve seen it, after all. It will make our own home look so mean and insignificant.” ‘‘Oh, dear! oh, dear! Why couldn’t we have been rich ?” added Netty; ‘‘or at least not so very poor ?” ‘Mamma doesn’t look the least envious,” resumed the elder sister. ‘‘She seems to enjoy all as much as if it were her own.” “Would you like to live here?” the mother asked, calmly. ‘Would you have liked to live in the garden of Eden 2” said Nelly. | | ‘‘Because if you would,” continued the widow, ‘‘we will move in about Christmas.” _‘Oh,we had better stay now, as we are already in posses- sion.” “ But really, Nelly, I am quite in earnest.” There was something in Mrs. Bright’s eye, as well as in the tone of her voice, which arrested* the jocose reply of her daughter, and sent a strange thrill through her frame. “If you and Netty do not object to a new papa,” added the widow, making the avowal with an effort, even before her own daughters, and blushing crimson as she did so. The scene which ensued could not easily be described. The transport of the girls was unbounded, and for many minutes they were almost incoherent in their ejaculations and in the questions with which they rapidly plied their mother, who could get no chance to answer them, nor scarcely to breathe, under their kisses and caresses. ¥ es is the secret of the new bonnets and dresses, of course ?” a Eomicbooks.co