The Argosy — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

fred ode AR: GOS. ¥s FEBRUARY, 1884. meee WwW TTT Ee Wiiecd, C.H A-P.T. Br Res-8, V. TOO MANY FOR HIM. oe new mistress of Croxham Abbey had just taken her seat in the brougham to be driven to Cheston, and her step-son was waiting to take his seat by her side, when Mr. Mayne came bustling out. “T wonder, Laura,” he said, ‘‘that you do not prefer the landau these hot afternoons, and have it open! You must find it close in this brougham.” ' Mrs. Mayne leaned forward to answer, a smile on her placid face. “*T never care to use an open carriage, Henry, when I can have a close one. You get the dust, and you get the sun—and I am just a wee bit timid.” “And feel safer shut up, eh? Well, well, everybody to his taste. A pleasant journey to you. Get in, Godfrey.” They drove away; Mrs. Mayne talking to Godfrey. ‘By the by,” she said, as they passed the Vicarage, “‘you are going out to-morrow afternoon, to Langskirk, are you not P” “I don’t know,” he replied. ‘‘ My father is going. Why ?—do you want me to go ?”—turning upon her suddenly. “Well, to tell you the truth, little Elspeth Thornhill is coming; she has been teasing me to teach her to knit, so I told her to come in to-morrow afternoon. I thought you would be out, and that she would not be in your way. I can send her away before you come back.” “‘Now you are making me out to be more of a bear than I am,” complained Godfrey. ‘I shall not go to Langskirk, and I shall make myself as agreeable as I can to both of you.” And Godfrey flattered himself that he had again rather discon- certed his step-mother. There was a short pause before she took up the conversation. “IT think those two girls are much nicer without their mother. She VOL, XXXVII. G Gomicboo <S (E(©) m