Roxy Hastings — page 242: what you’re looking at

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

— ROXY HASTINGS. 930 “We expect them every minute,” said Mrs, Allard, and I feel as if I should faint myself. Iam sure Lucy will.” “No, madam, she will not swoon again. The medicine which I have given her has this peculiar virtue—that it— that it holds the nerves at a certain degree of tension as if in a vice, madam—and—and—” _ The front door bell rang, and off went Lucy into a de- cided syncope—as if on purpose to overset the doctor’s theory. While the physician gave his attention to the patient, protesting that she would rally in a single instant, Mrs. Allard looked out of the window and said: “A carriage, I declare, and a lady and gentleman. Dear, dear! I hope she will come out of it, doctor.” “Instantly—in a breath, madam, you shall see. Let them be shown up at once, madam, at once, so as to be here if possible when she revives. Then the fright will be Over and she’ll be better.” Mrs. Allard hurried down to receive the visitors, who proved to be Laura and Mr. Tinklepaugh with whom Mr. “ Ed’ard” was already in excited conversation, holding Laura’s card in his hand. ~“I—I’U send it to her if the doctor allows it,” he said. Ah, she is iil then,” said Miss Lee, anxiously. “No, ma’am, only she’s heard all about it—I mean about you coming and Mr. Lee—and she’s dreadfully shaken like.” “Has heard it? How was it possible ?” | “Why, in fact I brought it myself. I—I was in the cars with you and couldn’t help hearing—” “ Ah—I see—” “But here is mother. Mother, this is Miss Lee, and Mr.—Mr.—” | “ Tinklepaugh,” said Laura, very gravely. : Mrs. Allard shook hands with them in a very flurried way. and said : “You are to walk right up, if you please.” “Not I, I presume,” said Mr. T. “Oh, this is not Mr. Lee, more’s the pity, for this doctor said the sooner she saw him the better; she’s in a faintin’ fit now, miss, and he’d like to have him there when she comes out of it.” . .9 “Tll go back for him immediately with the carriage, said Tinklepaugh. “I can have him here in five or six minutes.” | | | : He did so. Laura went at once up stairs, and was at the Eomichbooks (eo) m