The Argosy — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

A Tragedy. 117 He went to the edge of the brook and stood looking down at the small fry. Jane followed. Then they walked about in the Inlets, then sat down again and watched the sunset; and so the evening wore away until they went home. Jane was shut up again the following day, busy with her dress ; Oliver, as usual, was in the Buttery with his father. At twelve o’clock Mr. Preen prepared to go out to keep an appointment at Evesham, leaving Oliver a lot of work to do, very much to his aggravation. “Tt’sa shame. It will take me all the afternoon to get through it,” ran his thoughts—and he would have liked to say so aloud. “Vou don’t look pleased, young man,” remarked his father. “* Recollect you will be off duty to-morrow.” Oliver’s countenance cleared ; his disposition was a pleasant one, never retaining anger long, and he set to his task with a good will. The morrow being the day of the picnic, he would have whole holiday. At five o’clock the young servant carried the tea-tray into the parlour. Presently Mrs. Preen came in, made the tea, and sat down to wait for her son and daughter. Tired and hot, she was glad of the rest. Jane ran down stairs, all happiness. ‘‘ Mamma, it is finished,” she cried; “‘ quite finished. It looks so well.” “Tt had need look well,” fretfully retorted Mrs. Preen, who had been unable to get at Jane for any useful purpose these two days, and resented it accordingly. ‘When all trades fail I can turn dressmaker,” said the girl, gaily. ““Where’s Oliver ?” “In the Buttery, I expect; he said he had a great deal to do there this afternoon, and I have not seen him about,” replied Mrs. Preen, as she poured out the tea. ‘“‘ Not that I should have been likely to see him—shut into that hot kitchen with the ironing.” Jane knew this was a shaft meant for herself. At ordinary times she did her share of the ironing. ‘I will tell Oliver that tea is ready, mamma,” she said, rising to go to the other room. ‘‘ Why there he is, sitting in the shade under the walnut tree,” she ex- claimed, happening to look from the window. ¢ Sitting out in the cool,” remarked Mrs. Preen. ‘I don’t blame him, poring all day long over those accounts and things. Call him in, Jane.” “Coming,” said Oliver, in response to Jane’s call from the open window. ; He crossed the grass slowly, fanning himself with his straw hat. His fair face—an unusual thing with him—was scarlet. ‘You look red-hot, Oliver,” laughed his sister. “If it is as hot to-morrow as it is to-day we shall get a baking,” returned Oliver. ‘‘ In this intense weather nothing makes one feel the heat like work, and I suppose you’ve been hard at it this afternoon,” said his mother TOL... XLI. I COMiICcoaooks (CO) mM