The Argosy — page 212: what you’re looking at

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

The Ebony Box. 195 that way, as being the shortest—as if in apology for having met Sam. He turned with her, and they paced slowly along side by side, the colour on Maria’s cheeks coming and going with every word he spoke and every look he gave her—which seemed altogether senseless and unreasonable. Sam told her of his conversation with Austin Chance’s father, and his promise to put a few things in his way. “Once let me be making two hundred a year, Maria, and then is ‘Then what ?” questioned Maria innocently. ‘Then I should ask you to come to me, and we'd risk it together.” ‘Risk what ?” stammered Maria, turning her head right round to watch a barge that was being towed by. “Risk our luck. Two hundred a year is not so bad to begin upon. I should take the floor above as well as the ground floor I rent now, and we should get along. Anyway, I hope to try it.” “Oh, Mr Dene ! ” “Now don’t you ‘Mr. Dene’ me, young lady, 1f you please. Why, Maria, what else can we do? A mean, malicious set of dogs and cats have turned their backs upon us both; the least we should do is to see if we can’t do without them. I know you’d rather come to me than stay in Edgar Street.” Maria held her tongue, as to whether she would or not. “ Mamma is negotiating to get me a situation at Cheltenham,” she said. “You will not go to Cheltenham, or anywhere else, if I get any luck,” he replied dictatorially. ‘‘ Life would look very blue to me now without you, Maria. And many aman and wife, rolling in riches at the end, have rubbed on with less than two hundred a year at the beginning. I’d not say, mind, but we might risk it on a hundred and fifty. My rent is low, you see.” ‘“Ye—es,” stammered Maria. ‘‘ But—I wish that mystery of the guineas could be cleared up!” Sam stood still, turned, and faced her. ‘Why do you say ¢hat? You are not suspecting that I took them ?” “Oh, dear, No,” returned Maria, losing her breath. “I know you did not take them: could not. I was only thinking of your practice : sO much more would come in.” ‘‘ Cockermuth has sent me a small matter ortwo. I think I shall get on,” repeated Sam. They were at their journey’s end by that time, at the dressmaker’s door. ‘‘ Good evening,” said Maria, timidly holding out her hand. Sam Dene took it and clasped it. ‘‘ Good-bye, my darling. I am going home to my bread-and-cheese supper, and I wish you were there to eat it with me!” Maria sighed. . She wondered whether that wonderful state of things would ever come to pass. Perhaps not; perhaps yes. Meanwhile no living soul knew aught of these treasonable aspirations; they were a secret between her and Sam. Mr. and Mrs. Parslet suspected nothing. GOnnlGaooks (CO)