Roxy Hastings — page 206: what you’re looking at

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

ROXY HASTINGS. 197 charms,’ and looks so pointedly at me while doing 80, that it is really embarrassing, ludicrous as it is. “March 10th. It is a fortnight since I laid this letter aside, and Edward’s courtship has culminated into a pro- posal. Let me tell you how. A week ago Mrs. Allard came to my school-room in great excitement, and having sent the children out, she said that she had come to tell me that my conduct did not give satisfaction. “T asked her in what respect. “Why, in respect to my son, miss’, she said. ‘I told Miss Blythe that I couldn’t have nothing of this kind, you know. You see, Allard’s rich, and my sons have a right to look pretty high—and—’ “T interrupted her by asking her what impropriety she accused me of. “*T don’t know; I can’t say shat I have seen much my- self, but a mother’s eye can’t be everywhere. I only know that Edward is bewitched after you, and such things don’t happen unless there’s some encouragement given.’ “T controlled my temper; assured her I had never en- couraged her son’s attentions, but that on the contrary they were an annoyance tome. And I asked her what she required of me. “‘T> keep out of his way as much as possible.’ “T always do. “¢Never to see him alone—’ “T never have, except by the merest accident, and for a single minute. , “¢ And—and to refuse him point-blank if he offers him- self.’ “That I shall most certainly do. “‘T hope you will, miss, since you promise it,’ she con- tinued, ‘but I know Edward has very fascinatin’ ways, and the New York girls were quite crazy after him.’ “T told her I thought I should be able to resist his fas- cinations. “She did not look altogether pleased, but she went off, saying that she should tell him his attentions were dis- agreeable to me, and she looked very hard at me when she said this. | “ Certainly, tell him so, I replied. “During the next three days I saw nothing of my ad- mirer, who was not even at table, and I concluded he had been sent away; but I asked no questions. Mrs. Allard was glum, her husband looked quizzical, and my little pupils began to regard me with a sort of awe, as if they EomIicbooks (E(0)