The Argosy — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

The House of Halliwell. 103 as he approached the bend in the path, which would hide him from her sight, he flung the little switch away, with a sharp, determined gesture, as he had just flung away her love. Oh, the misery that overwhelmed that unhappy girl! ‘The dreadful blank that had fallen on her! She cast herself upon the grass, where no eye could see, and sobbed aloud in her storm of despair. She heeded not how long she lay. When she got up, the sun had set; it was dusk; and she staggered as one in drink, as she departed. In passing the rectory, a sudden idea occurred to her, and she went in. Scarcely in a fit state for it; but there might be no time to lose. Mr. Coomes was drinking his tea by firelight. ‘Why, my dear,” he said, ‘‘is it you ?” She sat down with her back to the fire, not caring that even his dim eyes should see her face in the faint light. And then she told him what she called for—to beg him to take her brother as curate. ‘“ My dear, it is true that Mr. Archer is going to leave me; but who told you of it?” ‘He told me so himself.” ‘He is a changeable fellow, then. He said he did not wish it immediately known ; not to anyone; and requested me to keep it secret. I have been thinking of your brother.” “Oh, Mr. Coomes,” she urged, ‘‘ you know it was through me he was driven away from here, to give place to Mr. Archer. Since his illness that thought has rested like a weight on my conscience. He has been ill again this winter; the bleak air there tries him. If you would only receive him as curate now ?” ‘““We will see about it,” answered Mr. Coomes. And Hester rose to go. ‘‘ Hester,” he whispered, in a kindly voice, as he followed her to the door, ‘‘ how is it between you and George Archer? Serene?” “That is over,” she said, striving to speak indifferently. ‘ We have bid each other adieu for ever.” “Tf I did not think this! He 1s losing himself like an idiot. God’s peace be with you, my child.” The Reverend Mr. Archer went up to town with the Seaford family ; and Mr. Halliwell, whose year of curacy was out, in Wales, took priest’s orders, and became curate of Seaford. Monotonously enough for Hester the time passed until August, when the Seafords returned to the castle; but Mr. Archer was not with them, neither was the Lady Georgina. It had all come out to the Earl. Hester, who had heard nothing and knew nothing, was at the window when the carriages drove by ; watching for them, if the truth must be told. The two carriages passed very quickly, and she did not recognise a single face, save little Ellen’s, who was sitting forward. She looked for Lady Georgina’s; and she looked for /zs, but she saw neither. Near the park-gates, that same evening, she met the child GomiilGcaooks mM