The Argosy — page 199: what you’re looking at

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

180 The House of Halliwell. “Talking to, ma’am? Oh, I remember; he asked about his umbrella. I think he must have left it at the infirmary, or at Mr. Dicks’s.” ‘¢ Asking a necessary question I will look over,” said Mrs. Agatha ; “but should he ever show a disposition to speak with you upon indifferent subjects, you will come straight off to me, and report him, Rachel; for it is not allowed.” “Very well, ma’am.” From the above specimen of Mr. Tom Elliot, 1t may be wondered how he contrived to remain an inmate of Mrs. Agatha Needham’s, and continue in that lady’s good graces. It was a marvel to Tom himself, and he was wont to say in that favourite resort, the dissect- ing-room, that though he had got on the ancient maiden’s blind side, he had more trouble than enough to keep himself there. One day sundry of the infirmary pupils were assembled in the above-mentioned choice retreat. ‘The relics lying about were not very pleasant to look upon for an uninitiated eye, but it seemed that the young gentlemen engaged in the cheering business of studying these lopped branches did not find their occupation particvearly disagreeable. A looker-on might have described them as being rather ‘“‘jolly.” There were seven of them: four had short pipes in their mouths, and the three others cigars, and they were smoking away with all their might, Mr. Tom Elhot being amongst them, and some pewter pots of beer, which stood on the table in close contact with the—relics. ‘How did old Moss come out last night?” inquired one, wh a shock head’ of very red hair, as he sat on a deal side-table, and kicked his feet against a neighbouring wall. ‘Old Moss” being a botanist, who was then giving lectures in the city which the infirmary pupils were expected to attend. ‘““What’s the good of asking me?” responded Tom Elliot. ‘‘ Pass the pot, Jones.” “Td got a better engagement, and didn’t show, first speaker. ‘‘ Were you not there either, Elliot?” ‘“‘T just was there. And got jammed close to two of the loveliest girls I ever saw in my life. One of ’em is a prize. You are be- ginning that arm wrong, Davis.” “"Teach your grandmother,” returned Mr. Davis. ‘‘I was prac- ‘tising on arms when you were in your leading-strings.” ‘““Filliot needn’t talk. He'll never be any good; hasn’t got the knack of holding the knife.” ‘“‘ It’s because I don’t practice. JI asked old What’s-his-name, the sexton of St. Luke’s, how much he’d charge for a subject.” “How much did he say, Elliot? That fellow does more business than all the sextons of Nearford put together.” ‘“ Because he is favoured by accidental circumstances,” interrupted Davis, who was somewhat older than the rest of the pupils, and ) resumed the Eomichbooks.co m