The Argosy — page 364: what you’re looking at

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

350 The Syllabub Feast. at the aspersion. ‘Why, ’d never had a drop o’ nothing inside my lips since dinner time, save a draught of skim milk as the dairy-maid give me. They was in that far corner, they was, them boots; and the smock-frock was laid smooth across the shaft of the cart here, with the cotton neck-handkecher folded a-top on’t.” ‘Well, well, we must inquire after the things,” remarked the Squire, turning to go back to breakfast. ‘I don’t believe they are stolen, Mack : they’ll be found somewhere. If you had lost yourself, you could not have made more noise over it. I’m sure I thought the ricks must be on fire.” Tod could hardly eat his breakfast for laughing. Every now and then he came out with the most unexpected burst. The Pater demanded what there was to laugh at in Mack’s having mislaid his clothes. But as the morning went on, the Squire changed his tone. When no trace could be discovered of the articles, high or low, he took up the opinion that we had been visited by tramps, and sent off for old Jones the constable. Jones sent back his duty, and he would come across as soon as he could, but he was busy organising the search after Master Westerbrook, and posting up the fresh bills. ‘Johnny, we must dispose of that hair of Fred’s in some way,’’ Tod whispered to me in the course of the morning. “ To let anybody drop upon it would never do. Come along.” We went up, four stairs at a time, bolted ourselves in his room, and undid the hair. Fine, silky hair, not quite aubum, not quite light ches- nut, but as nice a colour as you would wish to see. ‘‘ Better burn it,” suggested Tod. ‘¢ Won't it make an awful smell ? ” ‘‘Who cares? You can go away if you don’t like the smell.” Tod turned the hair into his wash-hand basin, and set it alight: the grate was filed up with the summer shavings. A frizzling and fizzing set in at once : and very soon a rare smell of singeing. | * Open the window, Johnny.” I had hardly done it, when the handle of the door was turned, and the panel thumped at. Hannah’s voice came through the keyhole. ‘Mr. Joseph |—Master Johnny! What’s the matter?” ‘What should be the matter?” called back Tod, putting his hand over my mouth that I should not speak. ‘Go back to your nur- sery.” “There’s something burning! My goodness! it's just as if all the blankets in the house were singeing ! You’ve been setting your blankets on fire, Mr. Joseph!” ‘And if I have!” cned Tod, blowing away at the hair to make it burn the quicker. ‘They are not yours.” “Good heavens! you'll burn us all up, sir! Fire—fire!” shrieked out Hannah, frightened beyond her wits. “ For goodness’ sake, Miss (CO) CORnniclooolkks