The Argosy — page 400: what you’re looking at

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

Mercedes. . 379 succeed our grave, much respected pastor. He would, probably, be a more congenial companion for his patron, if he ever condescended to visit us; but there seemed small ground to hope that the sick and needy, the careworn and unhappy would find the same comfort from his ministrations. It was a great shock to us all the first time we saw him ride care- fully up the street, with a number of sporting dogs in his wake. It was true that as yet he was only a visitor, Mr. Marchmont having kindly invited him to the Vicarage, to judge of its capabilities, and to introduce him to his new sphere of duty ; but we none of us liked him. Sybil, especially, fled from him, and thereby prompted him to persecute her with unwelcome attentions. For myself, he scarcely noticed me, yet even his fine words were an offence. I heard him say to Mr. March- mont: ‘‘ An arrant Gipsy! She knows well enough how admirably that scarlet hood becomes her clear brown complexion and jolly looks! Mercedes—that means Mercy—why cannot she call herself by a suitable English name ?” “The young lady is partly Spanish. She has blue blood in her veins,” said my kind friend, hurriedly, as they passed at a little distance in front of the alcove in which we were seated, along one of the laurel walks. After Mr. Marchmont’s departure I would have gone quite a mile out of my way rather than pass the Vicarage, and the tribe of barking hounds for ever about the doors. I could not avoid them altogether. In the lanes, in the meadows, in my favourite walks, through the lately deserted park, I was constantly meeting these riotous com- panions of the Vicar; and though he called them off and made ample apologies, I could willingly have dispensed both with them and their master’s urbanity. He certainly seemed to be doing his best to make acquaintance with his parishioners ; and I think the people began soon to like him. ‘‘ He was so neighbourly, and the dogs were that life-like ;” and the men said if they did any mischief—killed an old dame’s cat, or worried the hens—‘‘he was ready enough to pay for it.” ‘““A good young fellow enough, and hearty ;” but there was none of the respect they had shown Mr. Marchmont in their way of speaking of his successor. When my earliest friends had left the village, it crossed my mind, for the first time, that it was not well to be alone. Assunta could scarcely be called a companion. She was an old, very faithful, much- loved servant, but she was nothing more. I found also that, even for our quiet mode of life, the resources 1 had at my command were barely sufficient. I began to have misgivings as to the future, and to find the present state of things intolerably dull. So, without seeking counsel, I sent a carefully-worded advertisement to the Zzmes, in which I described myself as an English lady, COnnicoooks (SO) im