The Argosy — page 109: what you’re looking at

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

Q2 The House of Halliwell. pew at the back, near the door: it was filled with male and female servants, some of them in the Seaford livery, and she knew then that it was the Earl of Seaford, his sons, and his daughter, the Lady Georgina. Mr. Archer was to dine that day with the Halliwells, and Hester thought that he would accompany them home from church. But they had been in half an hour, and dinner was waiting to be served, when he entered. Lord Seaford had detained him in the vestry. ‘‘T was surprised to see them,” remarked Mrs. Halliwell. ‘They must have come down late last night. I thought they were not in England.” “They have been abroad these three years, the Earl told me,” said Mr. Archer. ‘¢ And they have not been here for much longer than that. I did not recognise one of the children, and scarcely Lord Seaford. Was he pleasant with you ?” “Very much so. He invited me to the castle, and said Lady Seaford would be glad to see me, but that she was a_ great invalid.” ‘A very fine family,” resumed Mrs. Halliwell. ‘‘The daughter is beautiful.” “Ts she ?” said Mr. Archer. “Did you not think so?” “To tell you the truth,” said he, smiling, ““I was thinking more about myself, and the impression I made, than taking in any impres- sion likely to be made on me. My thoughts were running on whether I pleased Mr. Coomes and the congregation.” “T only trust Alfred will succeed as well,” returned Mrs, Halliwell. ““ Was it your own sermon ?” ‘Tt was indeed,” he said, earnestly. ‘‘I have written many. I used to write them for practice at college.” Oh, those Sundays !—for Mrs. Halliwell generally invited him— their peaceful happiness will never be erased from Hester’s memory. The intense, ecstatic sense of joy they reflected on her heart is a thing to be remembered in silence now, as it was borne then. They went to church that evening, and Hester attended better than in the morn:ng ; more courage had come to her. The family from the castle were not there. After service Mr. Archer overtook them in the churchyard, and drew Hester’s arm within his. . Mrs. Halliwell expected him to walk with her: she was quite of the old school and very particular with her daughters. However, she walked on with Lucy, and they followed, he pressing her hand in the dark night. ‘‘ Hester, dearest,” he whispered, “shall I do?” “Do?” she repeated, scarcely heeding what he meant, in her weight of happiness. For it was the first time they had walked thus familiarly together. GomilGcbooks. co