The Argosy — page 259: what you’re looking at

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

A Country Heart. 201 Down at the landing-stage he waited, full of all the importance of — the occasion ; through two long bright hours of the morning ; for with a countryman’s consideration for two town-bred ladies, he had fixed the start a good deal later than Captain Anstey had done, and the Halcyon was bounding miles away while Harry sat idly pulling the tiller ropes of the Aferma:d and looking up the little stony lane, expecting his guests to appear. Then, seized with dread that his in- structions had not been plain enough, and that the ladies were cer- tainly awaiting his escort at Myrtle Bank, he left his boat in charge of a boy, and darted up the hill at railroad pace to fetch them, quite overwhelmed at the thought that they should have waited, or that he had been remiss in the performance of any devoirs, which they had expected of him. “They be gone this tu hours,” was the reply of the Myrtle Bank landlady, who was taking the opportunity of giving her rooms a good tum out and had no time to waste in discussion. ‘‘ No; Miss Verey, her said as they would be out a’al day, and mebbe till laate, so they would only want supper when they comed to home and tu lay fora gentleman beside—they be gone out ta sail.” And with this informa- ton, she began to sweep so determinedly that Harry saw she had really nothing more to tell. Of course, that was where the mistake lay! They had gone direct to Shepstone, probably in the little Norfolk cart which Miss Verey sometimes hired for her mother. Now for the Afermaid as fast as might be, and to get to Shep- stone the best way he might, sailing or rowing as the tide served, to repair as much as possible the unlucky misadventure of the morning. But at Shepstone came out comely Mrs. Loveys, in her best spotted gown and a straw bonnet tied behind, to give an air of al frescoe dignity to the entertainment. “Where be they ? Mr. Harry, my dear? I have everything prepared just beautiful. And will you please to look at the garnishing of the ducks, and if you please tu say if the ladies will take green tea ? ” Poor Harry could say nothing, but that he supposed there was some mistake, and he went and sat down by the water’s edge, watch- ing for a possible boat to make its appearance round the corner of the little cove ; while Mrs. Loveys’ eldest boy, ‘“‘ Sonny,” was instructed to keep watch at the cross roads behind the farm-house, and report the approach of any carriage from Torferry way. The morning and midday were passed now, and the afternoon crept on, getting closer and more sultry as the sun dropped amongst 4 pile of clouds banked up in the western sky, and only showed at in- tervals, gilding the edges of the purple mass with thundery-looking gold. Harry Tredennick resisted all Mrs. Loveys’ invitations to come in and take a bit of dinner, in spite of his disappointment. He only filled his pipe again and again, and sat moodily staring across the Clear water of the cove to the open sea beyond. And, suddenly, with GOMMGIOO @ S (SO) uy