The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 183: what you’re looking at

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

LIVING IT DOWN. | 375 ‘Ten to one that's exactly what my guardian’s daughter is observing to herself at the present moment. I say, Jeff, compared with Driver’s Court, this is a palatial apartment, and you are a great improvement on Black Sal; but, for all that, don’t you look forward to seeing a little civilization—to eating with a fork for instance, and—oh, Jeff, it will be heavenly to wear a clean collar !’’ | Jeffreys laughed. ‘“Your two years’ troubles haven’t cast out the spirit of irreverence, youngster,’’ said he. “It zs jolly to hear myself called youngster,’’ said the boy, in a paren- thesis ; ‘‘it reminds me of the good old days.’’ ‘‘ Before Bolsover ?’’ said Jeffreys sadly. ‘““Look here! If you go back to that again, and pull any more of those long faces, Jeff, I’ll be angry with you. Wasn't all that affair perhaps a blessing in the long run? It sent me toa school that’s done me more good than Bolsover ; and, as for you—well, but for it you’d never have had that sweet visitor this morning.’’ ‘Don’t talk of that. That is one of the chief drawbacks to my going back to civilization, as you call it.’’ ‘(A very nice drawback, if it’s the only one ‘“‘Tt’s not ; there’s another.’’ ‘What ts that ?”’ ‘“My babies !”’ re CHAPTLR XLIII.—A CLouDLEss. SKY. It was astrange, happy night, that last in the Storr Alley garret. Jeffreys had begged Raby to let them stay where they were in peace for that day ; and she considerately kept their counsel tillthe morning. Then she told her father the strange story. ‘Two birds with one stone, and such a stone ?’’ ejaculated the bewildered colonel. ‘Four birds, father-—there are two babies as well.’’ ‘Whew !’’ said the colonel, ‘‘ what a holiday I am having !”’ ‘* Poor father,’’ said the girl, ‘‘ it’s too bad.”’ 3 ‘“Oh, well. The more the merrier. What’s to be done now? We'd better charter a coach and four anda brass band, and go and fetch them home in haste. If they wait until tomorrow we would have a triumphal arch.’’ ‘‘ How frivolous you are, father! We must get them away with as little fuss as possible. I arranged with Mr. Jeffreys that he would bring Mr. Forrester here in a cab this morning.’’ ‘“ And the babies ?”’ ‘“ He will go back for them afterwards.’’ ‘Well, as you like ; but what about Percy and the Rimbolts?”’ ‘“ Percy was to go out of town today, you know, and will not be back till tomorrow. By that time we shall be able to find out what Mr. Jeffreys would like best.’’ Gomichbooksacom