The Argosy — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

Il2 A CiAR Re CC] Gh A Love Story. ——_.-f<— CHAPTER I. MY GALLANT CAVALIER. ef S° this is London? Well, I do not see anything so very wonder- ful, Aunt Rebecca. It is only very noisy and dreary. I suppose it is market day as it is so crowded, and everyone seems to be in such a hurry P” Aunt Rebecca frowned disapprovingly; glanced uneasily at our neighbours, then whispered to me not to chatter like an ignorant school-girl. I was in London for the first time in my life. It is many, many years ago now, but none the less vividly do I recollect my first impressions of our great city, and my disappointment that there were no gorgeous palaces such as I had expected to see; for I was as unsophisticated a little rustic as it was possible for a girl of eighteen to be, even in those days when travelling was neither so easy nor so cheap as it is now. I, Celia Random, had lived all those eighteen years at our quiet country home, amongst pleasant meadow-lands and golden corn- fields. My father died when I was a child, and the family now consisted of my dear, good mother, my maiden aunt, Rebecca, my sisters, Maisie and Tottie, and of six great romping brothers, who grew out of their clothes with lamentable rapidity, and who kept the house in a constant state of excitement. A happier family could not have been found in the kingdom. ‘Troubles seemed to pass us by, or, if they came, they fell with a lighter touch on us than on other folk, and life shone like gold before our eager young eyes. But such a large family could not thrive upon nothing, and when I was considered to have reached years of discretion, it was arranged that I should try and earn something to help the boys’ education, by soing out as a “ lady’s companion.” That the thought was terrible to me I will not deny. But the boys must be educated, and I was always ready to do anything for those I loved. So my fate was sealed. My mother wrote to all her friends to inquire if they knew of any situation likely to suit me, or that I should suit ; and, as a last great treat, Aunt Rebecca said she would take me to London for a fortnight, that I might have a glimpse of the great world before I left my liberty and my home behind me. ECORNIELIOOKS,EO) m