The Argosy — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

Eve: An Idyll. 73 night, of all nights in the year, when, on my conscience, she looks ten times more beautiful than ever, and, I dare swear, ten thousand times more beautiful than any other dame or damsel at the féte—and better dressed forsooth ! Who else has such a brocade as that— so rich and fanciful! Oh! if I were my lady with dresses and jewels, and love, and lovers by the score, I'll wager I would laugh spleen and vapours away, and be happy from morning till night.” “Prudence, I am sick of dress and jewels, and the assemblies where they shine; and as for love and lovers, the old ones love my wealth, the young ones love themselves. Love indeed!” “Oh! my lady,” cried Prudence, “do not miscall love! If you could only see my cousin Nell and her sweetheart, Roger Blake, who are to be married come Monday next, you'd never say that love was naught.” “ Roger and Nell—some rustic party, no doubt. Who are they, girl, that they should feel the love that is but feigned by us?” “ Roger, my lady, is the son of my Lord Faircourt’s bailiff, and cousin Nell is uncle Simpson’s daughter, one of Squire Woodfield’s farmers. Ah! there will be mirth and happiness, and love eno’ at that wedding, if only your ladyship could but see it.” ‘I wonder if the rustics do enjoy themselves, or if ’tis only outward seeming with them too! I have scarcely seen a tree or blade of grass, save in the Park or Spring Garden, for many a year. I go sometimes to Greenwich or to Richmond by the river, it is true ; but then one’s so beset one scarce looks round. I wonder what the real country may be like, and how the country people feel who never come to town.” ‘Would your ladyship like to try it? Why should you not go to see my cousin’s wedding? It is not far. Four horses would take you there in an hour, although the road is somewhat rough ; and how honoured would they feel if your ladyship would but give them your countenance.” ‘“‘Nay ; if I go it shall not be to honour or be honoured. I will be a country lass for the nonce, just to see how it feels. You shall get me a dress, and take me as your friend.” And as she spoke the novelty of the idea brought light into her eyes and a ring of gladness into her voice. ‘Can it be done, think you, Prudence, nobody knowing?” “Oh! my lady, ’twould be charming,” cried Prudence, as delighted with the scheme as her mistress; “just like a play-acting. I will get a dress in which your ladyship will look divine. We will go to the shop of a friend in the city, whom I can trust. You send the carriage home, and we can slip out by the back door, take a hackney- coach to a farm-house near my uncle’s, then walk across the fields, and arrive at the merry-making like two countrywomen. Oh! it will be pure! But what will you be called?” ‘“‘ While I am about it, I will have no less a name than that. of the comicbooks.com