Roxy Hastings — page 207: what you’re looking at

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

198 ROXY HASTINGS. understood that I was somehow the apple of discord in the family. f On the fourth day the mother came to me with a beam- iny face, which seemed to say that she had found a solu- tion for the knotty question. | ‘¢ ‘Hd won’t give up,’ she said, ‘he’s very obstinate, and me and Allard has talked it over, and Allard says—says he— why not? She’s a nice, sweet girl; why not let the boy have his way? We’re rich enough for both. So you see, after a good deal of argumentating, we’ve come to the conclusion to give our consent, and Ed, he’s awaitin’ in the next room, for to be called in, and he’s just the hap- piest feller you ever did see.’ “T was really sorry to dash the simple fellow’s joy, but I believe I took some pleasure in causing a collapse of the simple woman’s conceit. “‘*TDid not you tell your son,’ I said, ‘that his attentions were disagreeable to me?’ ‘Oh, law, yes,’ she replied, looking a little startled, * but that was—was because we disapproved ’em, I s’pose. ~ Now the case is altered.’ , “But my sentiments are not altered. I am much obliged to you and Mr. Allard, and also to your son for his good opinion of me. But I can never accept him as a lover, or a—a husband. “Mrs. A.’s frowzy face underwent all manner of changes during this speech. But she forced a smile, and said : “*Oh, you can’t be in earnest—or—or you'll change your mind. Ed’ard is sich a nice feller, and he likes you so—and he’ll have sich a fortin !’ | ‘“T assured her that my mind could never change on this subject, and then she was foolish enough to get quite angry. “*JT should like to know who you consider yourself, then,’ she said, with many short nods of the head, ‘if our Ed’ard isn’t good enough for you. You must be lookin’ very high. Perhaps you expect to git the Prince of Wales, or his brother. It would be like sich upstarts.’ *<Suppose that I do not wish to marry atall. Is it not my privilege to remain single?’ I asked, for I really was not angry. _“*Oh, yes, it’s your privilege to wheedle young boys into likin’ you, and goin’ mad after you, and then jiltin’ ’em— that’s your privilege.’ _ ‘So saying, she bounced out of the room without wait- ing for a further reply, and I could scarcely restrain my laughter until her blazing face had disappeared. CeCe naka oxexe) <S (ele) m