The Argosy — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

My Cousin Caroline's Wedding. 7X Father Peter. It is her fault: I like the good old father, but he has to please Mrs. Dashingly. I wish I was poor; she might then suffer me to get to Heaven my own way.” ** But what is her motive ? ” “* She thinks it will cause scandal if Alfred marries a Protestant wife. And she threatens—and I am sure she will carry out her threat—that if I persist in refusing Alfred, she will shut me up in the Convent of Mercy—you know it, Edward—some ten miles from here.” ‘Stuff and nonsense, Lina!” I exclaimed, bursting into a laugh when the full meaning of her words came upon me; “ such things are not heard of now-a-days. They have no more power to shut you up in a convent than they have me.” ‘“‘ My aunt has the power of appointing my residence until I am of age ; if she chooses to put me in areligious house, who is to interfere with her? Idon’t mean, recollect, that I am to be placed in a cell or a dungeon, but as a boarder. Father Peter—he is really kind—says he will take care no harm shall come to me, and that it’s very nice and pleasant there. He means well; he likes me; but he must know that convents are easier to get in at than to get out of. J am afraid of my aunt, Edward ; and that’s the truth.” - “Lina, come hither,” cried my aunt, putting in her head ; “J want you. And, Ned, it is upon the stroke of the dinner hour.” ‘So, Carry,” I whispered, leaning over her chair when I got back to the drawing-room, where she sat alone, ‘‘I thought you were to remain true to me for ever and a day !” Caroline tried to get up a blush. She had promised the like to a few score of admirers. “Ah! you took yourself off so suddenly, Ned. Who was going to remain faithful to a runaway lover ?” "Took myself off! I think the boot was on the other leg.” “ And you never wrote, or anything,” pouted Carry, attempting to turn the tables on me. ‘It would have been all the same if I had, when the gallant captain made his appearance,—eh, Carry?” “ Get away, Edward !” “‘He is very handsome, I suppose ?” “ You:can decide that point for yourself when you see him.” “A large fortune now, I understand, ane a barony in prospective ?” *¢ Just so.” “ wel, cousin mine, you are a happy woman. Am JI to give you away.” “ You, indeed ! Alfred's coming home ; partly for that, partly to make love to Lina.” *“‘ But Lina does not like him.” “Oh, I don’t know. Those quiet, say-nothing girls, suchas Lina COMmMiIcloOoks.conn