The Argosy — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

100 The House of Halliwell. invited him to a seat in his carriage; and he was often now a guest at the castle. It has been said he was a handsome man; he was well informed, elegant, and refined; as a clergyman he was regarded as, in some degree, an equal by the society so much above him, and he was courted and caressed from many sides. Thus it was that he acquired a false estimation of his own position, and ambitious pride obtained rule in his heart. But not for all this was he neglecting Hester. No, no; there was another and a deeper cause. Easter was later this spring than the last, and on its turn the Seafords were to depart for town. Hester’s duties at the castle would conclude the Thursday in Passion Week ; and it may be mentioned, that over and above the remuneration paid her, which was handsome, the Countess pressed upon her a gold and enamel bracelet, which Mrs. Halliwell said must have cost a small fortune. Hester has it still ; but it is not fashioned as those worn now. Thursday came, Hester’s last day, and after their early dinner she set off to walk to the castle. A rumour had reached her that after- noon, that Mr. Archer had thrown up his curacy. His year had been out three weeks, but he had agreed to remain on, waiting for some- thing better, at a stipend of a hundred a-year. Hester had been looking forward to the departure of the Seafords, with a vague hope that the old, loving, confidential days might return ; and now this rumour! It seemed as if there was to be no hope for her in this cruel world, and she sat down to the lessons of little Ellen Seaford as one in a troubled maze. Before they were over Mademoiselle Berri came in, and told the child to go to her mamma: some visitors had called who wished to see her. “You will stay to take de thé wid me dis afternoon,” said made- moiselle, who had now made some progress in English. “No, thank you,” answered Hester. ‘My head aches, and I want to get home.” ‘You cannot go till madame la Comtesse has seen you: she did say so. Ah, but it is triste in dis campagne! I have de headache too, wid it. I shall have de glad heart next week to quit it.” ‘You have always found it dull, mademoiselle ?” ‘““As if anyone was capable to find it anyting else! Except it is de Lady Georgina. And perhaps de Earl, wid his steward, and his shooting, and his af-fairs. But for de Lady Georgina, she does keep herself alive wid flirting: as she would anywhere. She is de regular flirt.” ‘But then she is so very beautiful.” ‘““Eh bien, oui, 1f she would dress like one Christian. But de English don’t know how; wid deir bare necks and deir curled hair. Dere is no race in de world who ought to put on clothes, Miss Halliwell, but de French women.” ‘“ Lady Georgina always looks well,” sighed Hester. Was it a sigh of jealousy ? EORNIELOOOL<S ye)