The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

= SSS ee ee ae Sep 8 a elas EE Oe SR Ate SS ay ea ee GR ee eRe es Nee ge US ee 376 LIVING IT DOWN. ‘Oh, very good. We’ll wait till his Royal Highness signifies his pleas- ure,and meanwhile our relatives and friends must be avoided—that’s what you mean ?”’ ‘‘ No,’’ said Raby, coloring ; ‘‘ but you know how easily frightened he is.’’ The colonel laughed pleasantly. } ‘“All right, Raby ; they shall be let down as easily as you like. Now shall I be in the way when they come, or shall I make myself scarce? And, by the way, I must go at once and get a perambulator and feeding bottles and all that sort of thing. How many times a day am I to be sent out to take them for walks? ’’ ‘You're too silly for anything,’’ said Raby dutifully. She was grateful to him for making things so easy, and by covering her own ill disguised embarrassment by this adroit show of frivolity. There was no frivolity in the manner in which the gallant soldier wel- comed his old comrade’s son, when, an hour later, he entered the house, borne in the strong arms of his friend. A couch was ready for him, and everything was made as simple and homelike as possible. Jeffreys stayed long enough to help the boy into the civilized garments provided for him, and then quietly betook himself once more to Storr Alley. The curiosity roused by the departure of ‘‘ Black Sal’s Forrester’’ in a cab was redoubled when, late that afternoon, Jeffreys was seen walking out of the alley with the baby in one arm and Tim holding on to theother. He had considered it best to make no public announcement of his departure. If ‘ he had, he might have found it more difficult than it was to take the impor- tant step. As it was, he had to run the gauntlet of a score of inquisitive idlers, who were by no means satisfied with the assurance that he was going to give the children an airing. The general opinion seemed to be that he was about to take the children to the poor house, and a good deal of odium was worked up in consequence. Some went so far as to say he was going to sell or drown the infants ; and others, Driver’s Alley refugees, promised him a warm reception if he re- turned without them. He neither returned with nor without them. They saw him no mote, But it was given to the respectable inhabitants of a crescent near Regent’s Park, about half an hour later, to witness the spectacle of a big young man, carrying a small baby in his arms, and a big one on his shoulder—for Tim had turned. restive on his hands—walk solemnly along the footpath till he reached the door of Colonel Atherton’s, where he rang. The colonel and Raby had a queer tea party that evening. When the meal was ended, Jeffreys was called upon to put his infants to bed, and a wonderful experience to those small mortals was the warm bath and feather bed to which they were severally introduced. Jeffreys was thankful that the baby was restless, and gave him an excuse for remaining in retirement the most of the evening. At length, however, silence reigned ; and he had no further call to tarry. . Entering the parlor, he perceived almost with a shock that Mr. Rimbolt was there. He had called in accidentally, and had just been told the news.