The Argosy — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

Our First Term at Oxford. 39 “I remember you, Johnny Ludlow.” Mrs. Everty made the tea. Her dress, white one way, green the other, gleamed like silver in the lamplight. It had a quantity of white lace upon it: light green ribbons were twisted in herhair. “I should think it would be better to have those curtains drawn, Mabel. Your tea’s ready: if you will come to it.” “ But I choose to have the curtains open and I'll take my tea here,” answered Mabel. ‘“ You may be going out again for hours, and what company should I have but the street? I don’t like to be shut up in a strange room: I might see ghosts. Johnny Ludlow, that’s a little coffee-table by the wall: if you'll put it here it will hold my cup and saucer.” I put it near her with her tea and plate of bread-and-butter. “Won't you sit by me? I am very lonely. Those other two can talk to one another.” So I carried my cup and sat down by Mabel. The “other two,” as Mabel put it, were talking and laughing. Tod was taking a lesson in tea-making from her, and she called him awkward. “Are you living here?” I asked of Mabel under cover of the noise. ‘ Living here! no,” she replied in her old abrupt fashion. ‘‘Do you think papa would let me be living over a shop in Oxford? My grand- mamma lives near the town, and she invited me down on a visit to- her. There was no one to bring me, and she said she would”—indicating Sophie—“ and we came yesterday. Well, would you believe it? Grand- mamma had meant next Saturday, and she could not take us in, having visitors already. I wanted to go back home; but she said she liked the look of Oxford, and she took these rooms for a week. Two guineas without fires and other extras; I call it dear. How came she to find you out, Johnny ? ” “We met just now. She tells us she is Mrs. Everty now.” “Oh yes, they are married. And a nice bargain Mr. Everty has in her! Her dresses must cost twenty pounds apiece. Some of them “urzy | pounds! Look at the lace on that one. Mrs. Smith, papa’s wife, gives her a good talking-to sometimes, telling her Mr. Everty’s income won’t stand it. I should think it would not !—though I fancy he has a small share in papa’s business now.” ‘Do they live in London P ” “Qh yes, they live in London. Close to us, tao! In one of the small houses in Torriana Street. Se wanted to take a large house in the square like ours, but Mr. Everty was too wise.” Talking to this girl, my thoughts back in the past, I wondered whether Sophie’s people had heard of the abstraction of Miss Deveen’s emeralds. But it was not likely. To look at her now: watching, her: fascinating ease, listening to her innocent reminiscences of the time we had all ECoOMmicloooks —_) 5GCOLM