The Argosy — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

The Channel Islands. 55 the level of the sea, now passing through a hedge-bound, Jersey lane. And always the roads were in wonderfully good order and the hedges perfection. But we were generally below the latter, and this was tantalising and unsatisfactory. Every now and then we came across a great apple orchard, one of the chief features of the island. Never were seen trees so laden with fruit; apples from the pale yellow to the deep red. Many—like the Jersey pears—are sent to England ; and many are manufactured into cider. When, at last, we reached St. Helier, twilight was gathering, and a chilly wind was creeping up over the sea, and we were not sorry to get back to our comfortable quarters. The company at the table d’hote that night—the dinner was excellent —was amusing. Opposite to us sat an evidently newly-married couple, who had entered well on the meridian of life. Nevertheless, the lady blushed and simpered in a very charming and girlish fashion whenever her left-hand neighbour addressed her. After an inaudible reply she would cast an appealing and gushing glance at her hus- band on the right, who, to do him justice, looked a sensible Englishman. The old bachelor on the left—he was unmistakably a bachelor—had a smooth, round, red face, a flaxen wig that curled beautifully, and a diamond ring of priceless value. He watched the happiness of his right-hand neighbours, and seemed to feel it a reproach to his single blessedness. Beyond him came a Darby and Joan, whose halcyon days were in the long ago. They could only be des- cribed as extremely comfortable. The gentleman was big and broad, and if it were polite, the lady might be described in similarterms. It was pleasant to see the evidently good understanding existing between this couple, who, judging from their age, might long have passed their silver wedding. They were on the best of terms with life and the world, and all the good things it possesses for the fortunate and the pro- sperous. The gentleman reminded one so much of a public character who in the last few years has become notorious, that we were at no fault for a title whereby to identify him. From his expression we felt that he must be a Radical, and later we found that our instincts had not been led astray. His cara sposa evidently appreciated the plea- sures of the table. No dish passed her, and it was a true delight to hear her smack her lips after an especially happy effort on the part of the hotel chef. Once, after disposing of a large helping of a sweet dish, she turned to her lord and exclaimed, pro bono: ‘“ Very good, my dear; uncommonly good! Waiter, bring me some more of that stuff!” And a second supply quickly went the way of the first, and the lady looked a third time longingly at the dish, at that moment retreating, in the hands of a provident and active waiter, through the door leading to unseen regions. It was a singular fact that we were constantly coming across a happy bride and bridegroom in our progress through the Channel Islands. To-night there were no less than three sets at table, living Gomichboo m <S