The Argosy — page 185: what you’re looking at

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

Fack’s Nece. 173 such a terribly bold, forward girl, Good-bye; good-bye, and thank you a thousand times.” And Daisy gave a very watery smile of fare- well to her kind and hospitable friend. She felt shy and uncomfortable with the real uncle. Somehow he was much more formidable than Captain Kerr, He was older and graver, and the thought of her awkward mistake had quite subdued poor Daisy ; but her uncle was very kind, and made her as comfort- able as he could on the journey, though he talked little. As they neared Chester he said : “ Daisy, I have told Aunt Adelaide nothing except that you have come over from America to visit some friends, that owing to illness in the family they are unable to receive you for a few days, and that you’ve stayed with friends of mine till I knew she could have you. So you need say nothing about this misunderstanding.” ‘Thank you, uncle.” And then, with a half-sob, she added: ‘¢ May I call you Uncle Adolphus, please ? ” J thought you objected to the name,” he said, laughing. ‘ But you can call me what you like. I suppose you've heard of your great-aunt Adelaide ?” “Yes; mamma has talked of her, and said she was very old and rather cross, but that she supposed I should have to go and see her before I left England.” In due time Captain Carr and Daisy arrived at Mrs. Barton’s abode—and received a rather frosty welcome. The old lady did not like girls, she said, but her nephew was a favourite, and as Daisy came with him, Aunt Adelaide was less chilling than she might other- wise have been. “Fancy Mary letting you come all the way from America by your- self,” she said. ‘‘There’s no knowing what mischief you might have got into on the way.” Daisy blushed crimson, and could barely falter that Mr. and Mrs. Carter, American friends, had brought her over. Having seen his niece settled at Mrs. Barton’s, Captain Carr re- turned to Overbridge, feeling it first incumbent on him to say “a word in season.” ‘Let this be a lesson to you, Daisy, not to act on impulse. It might have been no end awkward, but Jack Kerr is a thorough good sort, and will never say a word about your mistake to anyone. Good-bye; write and tell me when you hear from the Denes.” Certainly life at Aunt Adelaide’s was not exciting. Daisy spent a dreary fortnight with her, and then came a letter from her friend Alice, saying that Mr. Dene’s father had, after all, recovered from his dangerous illness, and was well enough for them to leave him, and that she anxiously expected Daisy at Feltham Park. So, bidding Mrs. Barton farewell, Daisy left Chester without any great regret. She had written to her mother a full account of her unhappy mistake, but felt it was unnecessary to tell anyone else. GOGO SS (CO)