The Argosy — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

24 A Girl's Folly. ‘Not at all,” said Alison, in a slightly contemptuous tone, her fair face flushing rosy red, and her blue eyes roving outwards to the dis- tant green meadows, to the sheaves of the golden corn, and to the already changing tints of the foliage. ‘‘I’m sure the frock is good enough for ‘Thomas Watkyn! And I don’t see why he need be dancing to our house so often, mamma.” ‘‘ Alison, be silent. ‘‘ You are behaving ill, and you know it.” ‘‘T am very sorry you should think so, mother, I do not wish to behave ill to you.” ‘‘That is behaving ill—saying those last words ; because you know well that I did not mean you were behaving ill to me, but to Thomas Watkyn.” Alison Reece pouted her cherry lips, and eat a whole slice of thin bread-and-butter before replying. ‘‘ Mamma, how particular you are!” ‘‘T never thought you could behave so. Six months ago, you would not have believed it yourself.” ‘“Would you please let me have a little more milk in my tea?” “You treat Thomas Watkyn outrageously,” continued Mrs. Reece, as she passed the milk-jug. ‘One day you smile on him, draw him on—yes, you do, Alison; don’t interrupt me—and the next day you will hardly speak to him a pleasant word. But he is worth more than that other; that foolish Vavasour, with whom you have been flirting lately.” ‘Worth more!” retorted Alison, resenting these charges, which she knew were all true, and having no other answer at hand. ‘Yes; infinitely more. Compare a dandy-fop like Vavasour with Thomas Watkyn! Alison, you must alter your behaviour. You are engaged to young Watkyn, and ——” “There was no engagement,” interrupted Alison. ‘Tt is equivalent to one. He comes here openly to court you ; you have until lately responded to it. Why! don’t you see that he worships the very ground you tread on?” A pretty blush and a conscious smile illumined the girl’s face. ‘‘T say things must not go on as they are going,” repeated Mrs. Reece. ‘Either tell Thomas that you cannot marry him, and beg him not to come here; or else make up your mind to do so and cease your silly flirtation with the other. ‘Tt is not a silly flirtation,” angrily replied Alison. ‘Indeed I see not what else it can be.” “T don’t flirt; he does not flirt. He calls here sometimes, and we talk a little ; and—and—lI’m sure there’s nothing in that to make a fuss about.” ‘And how often do you meet him when you are out !—and how often do I see him strolling with you about yonder fields! Alison, take care that in trying to grasp the shadow you do not lose the substance.” COMICOOO KS, EO