Roxy Hastings — page 234: what you’re looking at

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

ROXY HASTINGS, 225 Not only at chess, but at the piano, and sometimes on the quarter-deck, Laura and her new friend were often to- gether, without Alfred, who did not seem to observe their growing intimacy, and who certainly took no measures to check it. | He seemed startled once, but only into a smile, by a ques- tion which his simple-minded sister put to him as they drew near the end of their voyage. ~ Are not names sometimes changed ?” she asked. “Oh, yes, very often,” the lieutenant replied, with a merry twinkle of the eye. - Laura blushed and explained : ~ But you know what I mean—changed by law in some way—or by the courts?” * Yes—do you want to change yours?” “Pshaw! You know better. But there’s Mr. Tinklepaugh now. One would think he would like to avail himself of such a privilege.” “ What! renounce his ancestral name, with all its ten- der associations! Think of Tinklepaugh, senior—of dear old Mrs. Tinklepaugh—of all the little Tinkles !” “Now, you are making fun, I know, but it’s no joking matter for him.” * Does he complain of it?” “No, but everybody must laugh at him. Suppose he - should want to get married—” ~ Why, yes, he might, you know, some time. What lady would have him with such a name? And have it on her cards? Mrs. Jacob Tinklepaugh !” Alf laughed, and then, trying to check himself, he only laughed the more. He laughed uproariously—obstreper- ously, and when he found voice again, he said, wiping his eyes, for he had laughed the tears into them : “Plenty of them. There would be plenty to take him, name and all—such a delightful fellow ! “Do you think so?” ‘Yes, that I do.” 3 Laura remained silent and thoughtful, and the subject was not resumed. But certain it was that Miss Lee’s spirits failed as the day of expected separation from her new friend ap- proached, and rapidly improved. again in St. George’s channel as she listened to a brief conversation between him and her brother. 3 “Where are you going, Mr. Tinklepaugh ?” | Eomicboo “S co