The Argosy — page 107: what you’re looking at

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

go The Story of Charles Strange. easy chair and closed her eyes. I said something to the child. She did not answer, but came to me on tiptoe. “Tf we talk, mamma will be angry,” she whispered. ‘‘ She never lets me make a noise while she goes to sleep. Would you like to come out on the lawn? We may talk there.” I nodded, and Annabel silently opened and passed out at one of the French windows, holding it back for me. I as silently closed it. “Take care that it is quite shut,” she said, “ or the draught may get to mamma. Papa has gone to his room to smoke his cigar,” she continued ; “‘and we shall have coffee when mamma awakes. We do not take tea until after church. Shall you go to church with us?” ““T dare say I shall. Do you go?” “Of course I do. My governess tells me never to miss attending church twice on Sundays, unless there is very good cause for doing so, and then things will go well with me in the week. Butif I wished to stay at home, papa would not let me. Once, do you know, I made an excuse to stay away from morning service: I said my head ached badly, though it did not. It was to read a book that had been lent me, the ‘Old English Baron.’ I feared my governess would not let me read it, if she saw it, because it was about ghosts, so that I had only the Sunday to read it in. Well, do you know, that next week nothing went right with me: my lessons were turned back, my drawing was spoilt, and my French mistress tore my translation in two. Oh, dear ! it was nothing but scolding and crossness. So at last, on the Saturday, I burst into tears and told Miss Shelley about staying away from church and the false excuse I had made. But she was very kind, and would not punish me, for she said I had already had a whole week of punishment.” Of all the little chatterboxes! ‘Is Miss Shelley your governess now ?” I asked her. “Yes, But her mother is an invalid, so mamma allows her to go home every Saturday night and come back on Monday morning. Mamma says it is pleasant to have Sunday to ourselves. But I like Miss Shelley very much, and should be dull without her if papa were not at home. I do love Sundays, because papa’s here. Did you ever read ‘The Old English Baron ?’” cé No. > P “Shall I lend it you to take home?” continued Annabel, her cheeks glowing, her eyes sparkling with good-nature. “I have it for my own now. It is a very nice book. Have your sisters read it? Perhaps you have no sisters ?” ‘“] have no real sisters, and my father and mother are dead. Il have——” ‘“Oh, dear, how sad!” interrupted Annabel, clasping her hands. “Not to have a father and mother! Was it ”—after a pause— you who lived with Miss Methold ? ” “Yes. Did you know her ?” CONMIELIOO_ KS, (Ee) m