The Argosy — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

112 Shaving the Poniwcs Tails. ee And now we can go on again from the present time. Tod was turned seventeen, and as big as a house; tall, and strong, and dark, with an imperious manner and a will of his own. I was fifteen; fair, delicate, and timid. People called me a muff; and they said Tod looked nearly old enough and wise enough to be my father. There were two little children at the Manor now: Hugh and Lena. We were at home for the Chnstmas holidays. Things had gone on pretty peaceably the first week, but that came to an end. I think if Tod had taken the pains to understand Mrs. Todhetley better, he would not have hated her so. I used to say “Mamma” to her at times still, but he never would—he called her Madam. I am sure she would have been glad to be frends with him, but something was always happening to make them angry with each other. It rarely came to open battle of words ; Tod was sarcastically cool to Mrs. Todhetley. We did lead the children into mischief. Tod did, that is, and I helped. We loved them both; and Tod would have saved them from real injury with his life. ‘‘ But we can't let Hugh grow up a milksop, you know, Johnny,” he would say to me; ‘and that’s what his mother is doing for him. I tell the Pater so.” Everything Mrs. Todhetley said, everything she did, Tod resented. Not to herself, you know, but to himself. Before she came to the Manor, things were conducted there with a profuse hand; the Squire spending all his income; since then, expenses had been curtailed. First, this extravagance was cut off, next that toned down, until the outlay became moderate. Tod resented this worse than all. We came home from church on Christmas Day ; the Pater, Tod, I, and Hugh. Mrs. Todhetley had the tooth-ache, and did not go; she was always having it. Lena ran out in a white frock and blue sash, as we got home, and said the Sterlings had not come yet—who were to dine with us. “There’s plenty of time,” cried the Pater. ‘‘ We dine at four, and it’s not two yet.” Tod and I divided an apple-pie, and then went out together. First of all, we had a look at the ponies, Punch and Toby; two beautiful black creatures, the pride of the Squire's stables, with flowing manes, and tails that touched the ground. They had been a recent purchase, and the Pater talked of them to everybody. The close carmage had been laid down long ago; another of Mrs. Todhetley’s innovations. It stood in the great coach-house still, but the horses had been sold. As a matter of comfort, the want affected neither Tod nor his father, it had been so rarely used ; but Tod chose to be bitter over the curtailment. The Squire drove his ponies, he rode his saddle-horses, and Mrs. Tod- hetley went out in a low basket-chaise, drawn by a mild she-donkey. It was safer for the children, she thought. Tod went into fits when- ever he met the procession. comicaooks GO)