The Argosy — page 257: what you’re looking at

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

wm st ee THE ARGOSY. OCTOBER, 1876. EDINA. By Mrs. HENRY WOOD, AuTHoR oF “East LYNNE.” —_—~o _ CHAPTER XXVIII. LAUREL COTTAGE. COTTAGE. A roomy cottage in a small by-road amid the environs of Kennington, bordering on South Lambeth. Frost and snow on the ground outside, and biting blasts in the air: inside, sitting round the scanty fire in a bare-looking but not very small parlour, Mrs. Raynor, Edina, and the younger children, the two former busily employed making brown chenille nets for the hair. When Edina was out one day looking about for some abode for them, this dwelling fell under her eye. It was called Laurel Cottage, as some white letters on the slate-coloured wooden gate testified: pro- bably because a dwarf laurel-tree flourished between the palings and the window. Hanging in the window was a card, setting forth that “lodgings” were to be let: and Edina entered. Could the Raynors have gone away into the country, she would have liked to take a whole cottage to themselves: but then there would have been a difficulty about furniture. It was necessary they should stay in London, as Charles still expected to get employment there, and they ‘must not be too far off the business parts of it, for he would have to walk to and fro night and morning. Laurel Cottage had a landlady, one Mrs. Fox, and a young boy, her son, in it. The rooms to let were four: parlour, kitchen, and two bedrooms. She asked ten shillings per week : but that the house was shabby inside and poorly furnished, she might have asked more. Edina said freely she could afford to give only eight shillings per week ; and at length the bargain was struck. Edina’s income was just one VOL XXII. Ri comlichooks.com