The Argosy — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

34 The Ebony Box. required contrivance: a bed-room for the Captain, a bed-room for his daughter-in law, two bed-rooms for the children. Mistress and maids held momentous consultations together. ‘We have decided to put the three little girls in Philip’s old room, John,” said Miss Betty to her brother, as they sat in the parlour after dinner on the Monday evening of the week preceding Passion Week ; “and little Philip can have the small room off mine. We shall have to get in a child’s bed, though; I can’t put the three little girls in one bed; they might get fighting. John, I do wish you'd sell that old bureau for what it will fetch.” *¢ Sell the old bureau !” exclaimed Mr. Cockermuth, ‘‘T’m sure I should. What good does it do? Unless that bureau goes out of the room we can’t put the extra bed in. I’ve been in there half the day with Susan and Ann, planning and contriving, and we find it can’t be done any way. Do let Ward take it away, John ; there’s no place for it in the other chambers. He’d give you a fair price for it, I dare say.” Miss Betty had never cared for this piece of furniture, thinking it more awkward than useful: she looked eagerly at her brother, await- ing his decision. She was the elder of the two ; tall, like him; but while he maintained his thin, wiry form, just the shape of an up- right gas post with arms, she had grown stout with no shape at all. Miss Betty had dark thick eyebrows and an amiable red face. She wore a “front” of brown curls with a high and dressy cap perched on the top of it. This evening her gown was of soft twilled shot- green silk, a white net kerchief was crossed under its body, and she had on a white muslin apron. ‘‘T don’t mind,” assented the lawyer, as easy in disposition as Miss Betty was; “it’s of no use keeping it that I know of. Send for Ward and ask him, if you like, Betty.” Ward, a carpenter and cabinet maker, who had a shop in the town and sometimes bought second-hand things, was sent for by Miss Betty on the following morning ; and he agreed, after some chaf- fering, to buy the old bureau. It was the bureau from which Philip’s box of gold had disappeared—but I dare say you have understood that. Inthe midst of all this stir and clatter, just as Ward betook himself away after concluding the negotiation, and the maids were hard at work above stairs with mops and pails and scrubbing brushes, the first advance guard of the visitors unexpectedly walked in: Captain Cockermuth. Miss Betty sat down in an access of consternation. She could do nothing but stare. He had not been expected for a week yet; there was nothing ready and nowhere to put him. ‘“‘T wish you’d take to behave like a rational being, Charles !” she exclaimed. ‘We are all in a mess; the rooms upside down, and the bed-side carpets hanging out at the windows.” Captain Cockermuth said he did not care for bed-side carpets, CORnniclooox<s,conn