The Argosy — page 200: what you’re looking at

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

The House of Halliwell. 181 (though it is not of the slightest consequence to mention it, as it has nothing to do with the story) was a son of Mr. Davis, of Seaford. “St. Luke’s 1s a populous parish. J have seen on a Sunday as many as six funerals there; and the churchyard is snug and quiet, free from overlookers on a moonlight night. What did he ask you, Elliot? He’d clap it on to you, being a fresh one.” “No; I told him I was here. <A young one, from one guinea to three ; a full-grown, from seven to ten.” “Did you strike a bargain? Who’s that at my sandwiches ? Hand ’em over here.” ‘“No, I didn’t,” said Elliot. ‘The fact is, I don’t know how on earth to get it smuggled in, or where to hide it when it is in. If the old lady, or those two female slaveys came upon it in my bed-room some odd day—whew! they’d screech out blue murder. I should lose my quarters too.” “Tl tell you what Dll do, Elliot, if you lke,” cried a very young student, eagerly, Mr. Dobbs. ‘Ill go halves with you for a three- guinea one, and we can put it at my place, and you can come there and exercise. My landlady won’t care, if I give her a pint of gin at the bringing-in.” ‘‘T’ll see about it,” answered Elliot. ‘‘ Give us the pewter again.” “ How Elliot dips into the beer to-day! One has no chance, drinking with him.” ‘Send for some more,” was that gentleman’s rejoinder. ‘‘ This is dry work.” “Much work you are doing!” “Well, you are at it, Jones, so don’t growl. J am more agreeably occupied ; recalling those lovely visions of last night.” ““T say,” cried Davis, ‘‘ who were those girls Elliot’s raving about ““Who’s to know? There were fifty girls in the room. Very likely they were the Thompsons.” “Annihilate the Thompsons!” interrupted Elliot. ‘‘ The one’s cross-eyed, and the other’s sickly. D’ye think I don’t know the Thompson girls? ‘These were strangers. At least, I have never seen their faces at lectures before.” ‘‘Whereabouts did your two beauties sit ? ” “About half way up the room, on the left-hand side,” responded Tom. ‘Close underneath the astronomical map.” ‘““T know,” shouted Dobbs. ‘‘ They had got a big fat duenna between them, hadn’t they ?” “Just so, little Dobbs. In a scarlet hat.” “A scarlet hat!” echoed Davis. “Or a turban,” added Elliot: “might be meant for one or the other. <A glaring red cone, three feet high.” “Over a flaxen wig, which she puts in papers, and makes believe it’s her own hair,” rejoined little Dobbs. ‘It’s their aunt.” “Vou insignificant monkey—+¢fezy aunt!” broke forth Elliot. ‘If } GomiilGcaooks im