The Argosy — page 208: what you’re looking at

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

The House of Halliwell. 189 should have fixed on Turnbull,” observed the lawyer to his daughters. «What do you say, Clara?” Clara said nothing: she was sulky and cross. She considered herself much handsomer than that chit, Louisa, yet all the offers were going to her. ‘His rent-roll is two thousand a-year, all clear and unencumbered,” continued Mr. Freer. ‘I had the settlement of affairs, last year, at his father’s death. You are a lucky child.” | “T should not like to live in the country,” timidly remarked Louisa, ' not daring to make any more formidable objection. “ Not like—what! raise an objection to Turnbull Park? There’s not a prettier spot, for its size, in the county!” cried the attorney. ““T wish Z had the chance of living there.” “Tf Mr. Thomas Elliot were its owner, we might hear less of objection to ‘living in the country,’” very spitefully exclaimed Miss Yreer. “Thomas Elliot!” repeated the lawyer; “ hang Thomas Elliot!” He looked inquiringly from one to the other: Clara’s face was pale and severe ; Louisa’s burning. ‘“‘ Hark ye, young ladies,” he said, “we will dispense with the naming of that person in future. Had Louisa not given him up, I would have discarded her in disgrace. I would, on my solemn word. Squire Turnbull dines here to-morrow, Clara. Let the dinner be handsome.” Once more were the pupils assembled in a private department of the infirmary. Not the dissecting-room, this time, but in the mor- tuary ; and they were looking at—well, no matter what: something which had been in one of the wards the previous evening. Their pots of beer were absent, but their careless jokes were not. ‘“‘Elliot’s late this morning,” observed Jones. ‘‘ Won’t we have a shy at him when he comes!” “TI wonder if he knows it ?” “Not yet,” answered little Dobbs. ‘“T’ll bet a shilling to a crown he doesn’t. It was only through my aunt Blake drinking tea last night with Guy Stevens and her turban that it came out.” “Which is gone?” interrupted Elliot, coming in with a cigar between his lips, and bustling forward to look at what was before them. ‘Oh, it’s that one. Well, we shall know now what was really the matter with him. Poor fellow! he was a fine chap.” “TI say, there’s a chance of getting him.” eae there?” returned Elliot. “What are the mother and cousins ?” “Tt is believed he has none. None have turned up, as yet.” “Which will be prime,” added little Dobbs. ‘‘ Heard the news, Elliot ?” “I have heard no news.” “About a friend of yours,” Davis interposed ; ‘‘ going to be mar- ried.” COREL OO© ‘Ss (S©) im