The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 185: what you’re looking at

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

LIVING IT DOWN. 377 ‘“My dear feliow,’’ said he, as he took his old librarian’s hand, ‘‘ how we have louged for this day !”’ Raby and her father were occupied with Forrester, and Jeffreys and his old employer were left undisturbed. What they talked about I need not repeat. It chiefly had reference to Storr Alley and to Percy. ‘‘ He is down at Watford seeing a friend tonight. We expect him back tomorrow morning. How happy he will be! By the way,’’ added Mr. Rimbolt a moment afterwards, ‘‘now I remeniber, there is a train leaves Euston for Overton at 12.30, half an hour after Percy’s train comes in. How should you like to meet him, and run down with him for a week or two to Wildtree ? He sadly wants a change, and my books sadly want looking after there. You will have the place to yourselves ; but perhaps you won’t mind.”’ Jeffreys flushed with pleasure at this proposal. It was the very program he would have selected. But for a moment his face clouded as he glanced towards Forrester. : ‘‘T don’t know whether I ought to leave him.”’ ‘“ He is with his guardian, you know, and could not be in better quarters.’’ ‘‘ Then—you know I have—that is, you know—there are two—babies.’’ Raby, however, when the question was subsequently discussed, expressed herself fully equal to the care of these promising infants until a home could be found for them; and Forrester, for his part, declared that Jeffreys must and should go to Wildtree. ! ‘‘ Can’t you see I don’t want you any more?”’ said he. ‘‘ This sofa’s so comfortable, I’m certain I shall sleep a fortnight straight away, and then my guardian and [ have no end of business to talk over, haven’t we, guardian ? And you'd really be in the way.’’ So it was settled. The whole party retired early to bed after their exciting day. Jeffreys slept for the last time between the babies, and could scarcely be- lieve, when he awoke, that he was not still in Storr Alley. Still less could Tim, when he awoke, realize where he was. For the John he was accustomed to stood no longer in his weather beaten, tattered gar- ments, but in the respectable librarian’s suit which he had left behind him at Clarges Street, and which now, by some mysterious agency, found itself transferred to his present room. Tim resented the change, and bellowed vehemently for the space of an hour, being joined at intervals by his younger brother, and egged on by the mocking laughter of young Forrester, who was enjoying the exhibition in an adjoining chamber. For once Jeffreys could do nothing with his disorderly infants, and was compelled finally to carry them down, one under each arm, to the sitting room, where Raby came to the rescue, and thus established her claim on their allegiance for a week or so to come. In a strange turmoil of feeling Jeffreys at midday walked to Euston. Mr. Rimbolt was there with Percy’s traveling bag and the tickets, but he did not remain till the train from Westford came in. CONNICLOOKSs€O)