Roxy Hastings — page 197: what you’re looking at

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

188 a ROXY HASTINGS. — “Exactly. We sha’n’t quarrel, unless they are obstinate about having things made up for, you see. But I think the old lady will be reasonable.” “You can go and explain all this to them, and I will come around to tea about six o’clock.” ‘‘Oh, Iam so glad Iam to tell them. Let’s see; I’m a partner, Roxy is to own my capital, and is to have a fur- nished house, which we are all to live in together.” ‘Yes, a good house, worth at least as much as the sum I advance for you, and be particular to assure her. that I do not give her those things as a present, but simply in pay- ment of a debt.” “TI shall obey you.” | Selby found some difficulty in obtaining credence for his wonderful news, and when Charles came a few hours later the joyous excitement of his friends was still unabated. This feeling was not unmixed with a sense of humiliation on the part of Roxana, but this happiness of raising her mother and sister from a state of poverty and toil to com- parative wealth, outweighed all other considerations. Nor were Charley’s constant efforts to dispel her scruples with- out effect. ‘“You have earned it, and I can afford it,” he said. *‘Pray allow me to be simply just, without oppressing you with a sense of obligation.” “TI will try not to feel oppressed,” Roxy replied, with a sweet smile, ‘‘but I cannot view your benefaction in the way you represent it. Indeed Ido not want to; I prefer the privilege of being grateful.” Charley thought her prettier than ever before; her voice was more musical, her motions more graceful, but it had never occurred to him to fall in love with this gentle girl, and he supposed (sage youth !) that she had been equally discreet. What was there, indeed, in him, he asked him- self, to excite the love of a sweet, sensitive, and intelli- gent girl? If it had been Alf who had thus been thrown in her way his lively, witty, intelligent brother, she could not have failed to admire, perhaps to love him. ‘Then the thought flashed upon him that here might possibly be a remedy for his poor brother’s misery. If he could be thrown, accidentally as it were, into companion- ship with Roxana, perhaps they might become interested in each other, and the torn tendrils of his heart might close around this new object of affection. Visions of his loved brother, restored to his former vi- vacity, to that exuberance of spirit which once made him a Eomicbooks (ee)