The Argosy — page 213: what you’re looking at

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

How it Happened. 199 of hearing them tramping backwards and forwards through the long passage connecting our house with the College, and of listening to loud- voiced discussions about rods, bait, and tackle. I opened the great hall-door, and went out upon the steps to get a little peace. The air was delightfully soft and balmy, but the prospect before me was far from enlivening. A cart laden with dried fish splashed through the muddy street. Two officers, attired in unbecoming undress, went by, with cigars in their mouths, obliging 2 market-woman to get off the path to allow them to pass. They had just turned out of sight when . one of the bare-headed grey monks appeared, walking with down- cast eyes and a quick, silent step. A group of persons came into view almost immediately afterwards. They were Frances, with Louis Carter, followed by Fenella, who had the curate of the parish as her companion. All four looked out of sorts and uncomfortable. I felt instinctively that something disagreeable must have occurred, and I waited anxiously to greet the girls. The two gentlemen turned away in opposite directions when they reached the house, raising their hats to us all. . Fenella was at my side in an instant. Her eyes were blazing with angry excitement, and she threw back her head with a haughty, indignant toss and air. Frances stumbled up the steps, and burst into hysterical sobs as she got close to me. ‘Oh, hush!” I said, leading her into my husband's study, that being the only room downstairs in which we could be free from the boys’ intrusion. “ How I hate such meanness!” Fenella cried, looking at her sister with an unutterably wrathful gaze. “If you had a lover, I would not try and entice him away from you, although it might indeed be fair enough for me to make the attempt, when you are so much prettier than I.” It was some little time before I could ascertain the meaning of all this, but at last I gathered that the facts of the case ran as follows :— On leaving the Academy the girls had gone for a little walk before turning towards the College. They had met the curate, and Fenella, only too delighted to secure any male companion, had challenged him to escort them to their destination, which he was quite ready to do. Shortly afterwards, however, they fell in also with Louis Carter, who immediately attached himself to Frances, entering into earnest and private conversation with her. The younger girl, who regarded him as her own particular property, was terribly chagrined and provoked at this, and the young clergyman was made to feel himself quite de trop by her. While she was giving me an account of her grievances, Frances stood at my side, trembling, and shedding showers of tears. She now sobbed out a declaration that, although Mr. Carter had said he had but just left the bank, she felt sure he must have been drinking somewhere. “For shame!” I cried. ‘ How can you say such a thing of ‘a man comicbooks.com