The Argosy — page 181: what you’re looking at

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

166 Fack’s Nuece, ; s question, he ushered Jack into a cosy lamp-and-fire-lighted room, where a pleasing-looking lady, no longer very young, rose to greet him, kindly, but with evident surprise at so late a visit. Hurriedly Jack told his tale and the predicament he was in. ‘J don’t know what to do, Mrs. Allarton, so I thought I’d come and ask your advice—it’s awfully awkward.” ‘Bring her here. I will have the spare room made ready at once, and then in the morning we can consider what is best to be done.” ‘‘Oh, how good of you!” exclaimed the much-relieved Jack. “But I hardly like to take advantage of your kindness in that way—a girl you’ve never seen, and know nothing about.” ‘‘She’s your niece, Jack,” answered Major Allarton, ‘‘and I hope we’re old enough friends to do each other a good turn without either . feeling put out about it. Mrs. Allarton is right ; bring her here at once.” Jack hurried back to his quarters and in a very short time re- — appeared at the hospitable Allartons’ house with Daisy—the latter feeling very subdued and rather alarmed at the idea of being handed over to a strange lady. But as soon as she saw kind Mrs. Allarton and heard her pleasant, cheery voice making her welcome, all Daisy’s fears evaporated and she was once more the bright and smiling girl | Jack had found sitting by his fire. Mrs. Allarton looked approvingly — at her pretty young guest in her neat dress and jacket of brown cloth — trimmed with otter, with cap and muff to match—all very becoming ~ to the fair young face and neat little figure. “It is late, my dear, and you will be glad to get to bed, I’m sure, after your journey,” said Mrs. Ailarton, after they had all sat and talked for a little time, and Daisy had told again how she had come & to look for ‘* Uncle Jack. ? “You'll come and see me in the morning, Uncle Jack ?” asked © Daisy as she said good-night ; and then standing on tip-toe she rather — shyly held up her sweet young face and kissed him. Jack Kerr ° blushed a fine red, and as Daisy and her hostess left the room, Major — Allarton laughed and said : ** Never mind, Jack, you'll get accustomed ° to it, in time. She’sa very pretty girl. I shouldn’t mind having her for a niece myself! Come and have a smoke.” And he led the way to his den, where he and Jack were soon established in two easy- chairs with a tumbler a-piece beside them. ‘Your niece has gone to bed, Captain Kerr, and is very happy and comfortable,” said Mrs. Allarton, putting her head in at the door. ‘* Good-night ; come as early as you like in the morning.” Daisy awoke after a good night’s rest, feeling as fresh as the tradi- tional rose, and appeared at breakfast looking so like one that both © Major and Mrs. Allarton lost their hearts to her. Her pleasant, un- affected manner, too, impressed them most favourably—and they both” ) inwardly pronounced Jack’s niece ‘‘ a success.” ‘‘ Fancy, this is my first breakfast in England!” she cried. “ It Goin (9) ; LOOKS Ceol an) ae . — | —