The Argosy — page 312: what you’re looking at

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

296 Within their Gates. One or two of the out-door men stood about the premises, waiting probably for the arrival of the master. Miss Owen said a hasty word of explanation, and sent them running to the gate. This was barely done, when her young brothers and sisters came trooping out. “Is that you, Mary? How late you are! Where's father? Supper has been waiting ever so long.” Amidst the children had come forth a young man of four or five and twenty, one Alfred Hale. Mary, out of courtesy to him, addressed her explanation to himself, rather than to the children. “Perhaps you can help to bring him in, Mr. Hale,” she said, “if you would not mind the trouble. One of the men will have to take Billy, and my father is very tired.” “ Certainly,” he answered, with alacrity. ‘“ Who is he? Do you know him?” “Not at all: he’s a stranger. We saw him lying at the bend, as I tell you ; and then found him here at the gate, insensible. I thought he looked very fatigued.” Mr. Hale strode off in the direction of the gate. The two sons of the family, David and Tom, well-grown boys, started off in his wake. The three girls plied their sister with all manner of questions. “ Don’t ask me now, Lucy,” she said. ‘Where's Nanny? We must see to the best bedroom.” . “The best bedroom!” echoed Lucy. “Is he a gentleman, then?” “Oh, a gentleman, certainly.” The stranger revived, and was assisted to the house by Mr. Hale and the farmer. Whisky had nothing to do with his condition—as the latter found, to his relief. He had fainted from sheer exhaustion. Some refreshment was given to him, but he was still so faint and weak that the farmer, all hospitality now, insisted upon his going to bed at once. “Ts a room ready for him, Mary?” he asked. “Yes, father, quite.” Mr. Hale was ready to help him up the stairs. The stranger held out his hand to his host. “T thank you from my heart,” he said. ‘You seemed to take a dislike to me, I thought; and therefore I feel the more indebted to your goodness and hospitality.” “Dislike! Not a bit of it,” cried the farmer, heartily. ‘* Tut, man, go to bed and rest.” Presently Mr. Hale came down again, and took his place at the supper-table. He was an out-of-door master at a neighbouring school, the school that had the honour of educating the young Owens, When he came first to the district, some six months ago, he was at an utter fault for some suitable place to board at. No family was found willing to take a gentleman in: in fact, no family lived within reasonable idis- comicbooks.com