The Argosy — page 211: what you’re looking at

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

194 The Village Blacksmith. ; | Alas! In this unregenerate world in these degenerate days this wish was not likely to be fulfilled, but Mrs. Canter took care that if the Marling people did not know, as she averred, whether they were standing on their heads or their heels, the little Canters should — know to their cost which end of their little persons was uppermost, — Perhaps this was a precautionary measure taken lest they should dare to grow up with any revolutionary ideas on the subject of washing | day. Perhaps it was only a vent for the righteous indignation Mrs, | Canter felt with the world in general, and the Marling world in par- ticular, —LThere was some excuse for her irascibility just now ; she was — troubled about many things: especially about Vera and her engage- ment. Then rumours had reached her of Mr. Ryot Tempest’s intimacy with Mrs, Jamieson and its probable consequences, which, for Vera’s sake, she deeply deplored. And last but not least, she was most anxious about Janet, who was shortly expecting to become — a mother, and who was still urged by Rex to keep her marriage a secret until he had received the second sum of money from his father, which would not be for-another six months. | “Tt isn’t fair to you, Janet,” said Mrs, Canter on this particular” | Monday morning, as she and Janet sat working over the fire, | ‘T don’t mind so long as Rex wishes it kept secret,” said Janet. But Ido. Why, any day your father might pop in here upon us, — and it would just drive him out of his mind, unless you were to tell him the truth.” | “T could not. I would rather father killed me than break my © promise to Rex.” i Don’t be a fool, Janet! I haven’t patience to hear you. One would suppose Master Rex was a god. Law, bless me, girl! he naught but a man, after all; and the very best of them are poo! things compared to a woman who never made a fool of herself abou’ one. But there, you might go from here to Australia and not com across two women who had not gone silly about a man some time ir their lives. What they all find in a man to turn their heads deat me; for my part, I never saw much to admire in any of them.” z Oh, Aunt Norah, how can you say so! Why, I know you thin! my Rex is perfect.” “ T think you'll soon spoil him if he is, if you mean to give in t him in everything. A happier couple than Canter and I neve lived, and why? Because I never gave in to him in my life, a | he never expected it. Who’s that, I wonder? I’ll go, Janet,” sait Norah, rising to open the door in answer to a knock. It was Vera’s telegram. Mrs. Canter hastily tore open the enve lope, and read as follows :— ‘Mark will be with you soon after twelve to-day. Hope this ei arrive first.” | ; “And it is gone twelve. Here, read it, Janet. What are we to dof ‘ f EComicsooks.com