The Argosy — page 166: what you’re looking at

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

152 What Our Advertisement Brought. not put them on for any special purpose in creation. But when Ann asked whether “‘ The gentlemen we were expecting would be here to tea, and how many cups she should bring in,” I really thought De- borah would have an attack of some kind. I was very glad to see the tea come in; it did us both good. I was inclined by that time to give up all hope, and the feeling (though laden with despair) brought with it a certain sense of relief. I put my chair exactly in front of the fire, turned up my dress, and put my feet on the fender : not so much because they were cold as because the attitude was such a thorough change. But Deborah was more thoughtful. ‘“ Gen- tlemen engaged in their offices all day,” she said, “ will only be able to call in the evenings.” We cheered up again at that idea. The house looked so warm and bright and snug that we congratulated each other on the gentlemen not having called until now. Slowly the evening went on, leaving us undisturbed. “YT wish Mr. Hall would drop in,” sighed I; ‘‘this is such a waste of our best silks,” ‘‘ And of the fires all over the house,” added Deborah. An hour’s pause, during which I managed to snatch forty refreshing winks. ‘Eleven shillings was an exorbitant price for that advertisement,” ruminated Deborah, presently. We went to bed an hour earlier than usual, feeling as if the day had been a week long, but next morning we rose almost as hopefully as we had done the day before. I could not let cook make the lemon pudding— it is one of the things she never z// learn to do properly, and in which I am very particular, and, perhaps I may add, successful. So Deborah was stationed alone for some time in the drawing-room, sighing that her best dress would soon not be worth picking up. And just think of it! I had only that minute finished the pudding, when the knock came. _ I stood in the kitchen, my heart fluttering as I heard a manly voice and step in the dining-room. In less than ten minutes I was entering it myself, with as aftable a smile as I could as- sume on so short a notice, and in my tabby silk and garnet ear-rings too- There he was; an elderly gentleman with a smiling face. It struck me pleasantly upon the instant that he was just one to enjoy a lemon pud- ding—if well made. He rose with gallantry and bowed to me. I offered to take his hat and stick, which he was nursing, but he would not hear of troubling me. So I smiled again and sat down. ‘‘T have called in consequence of your advertisement,” he explained to me politely. ‘‘ It was a very attractive advertisement, and a young frend of mine, who is seeking apartments, requested me to come for him, as he is particularly engaged this morning.” SS (C(O) mn —_) I had no idea what it would be becoming in me to say, so J. hewed >