Roxy Hastings — page 213: what you’re looking at

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

204 ROXY HASTINGS. Laura looked hard at him, but he did not observe it, and he added: © | ‘‘Of course he could not propose when she was here. It was too soon.” ‘But I shall always think they had some understanding on the morning of that ride on horseback,” said the mother. ‘Nobody will ever convince me that they did not. They were so changed in their conduct to each other immedi- ately afterward. They were just like brother and sister.” The time for Emily Hastings’ wedding came at last, but greatly to Mrs. Lee’s disappointment nothing could induce her older son to attend it. Charles and Laura went, and in due time returned, bringing with them their young friend, from whom so much was expected in the way of restoring peace and happiness to poor Alfred. Roxy was as pretty as ever, and quite as winning in her ways. Indeed she was in some respects more captivatang than before, and that, seemingly, without effort, if not without consciousness of her powers. Nor could there be any mistaknig her favorable influence upon Alfred, whose spirits improved from the hour of her return, yet who hed seemed to seek an opportunity of being alone with er. “It would not quite do yet.” the widow said, who watched them closely, and reported, with intentional ex- aggerations, to Charles every sign that favored her theory. | But it was wonderful how, Charley’s business increased. He was almost never at home, excepting at meals, and he even began to find occupation in his room for hours to- gether when the weather confined him to the house. Society seemed almost as distasteful to him as to Alfred, yet the new position in which he had placed himself compelled him to pay some attention to its claims. As Alf would not he was obliged occasionally to attend Laura and Roxy to large evening parties, and of course he could not absent himself from those which his mother gave in return. : Roxy was quite a belle on these occasions, and she seemed quite happy, which Charles thought a little strange, as his brother was never present. That they were impliedly engaged he never doubted now, for his mother would not see things in any other light. They began to ride out again together when the weather permitted, sometimes with Laura and sometimes without, and of course the widow contrived to find other engage ments for her daughter as often as possible, (elo) ecomicbooks