The Argosy — page 211: what you’re looking at

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

192 The House of Halliwell. be there, and excessively annoyed he is. He charged me with his compliments to you, and trusted his absence would make no essential difference.” A fair speech, and the parson bowed, inwardly blessing the great cause, ‘‘Newcome v. Needham.” He had anticipated a string of ladies as long as the aisle, and a proportionate show of fans and feathers. He never performed the marriage service so glibly in his life—and he thought he had never seen a bride tremble more violently. The fees were paid, the register signed, and the parties left the church. At the entrance, which was situated, hke the church, in a low, obscure neighbourhood, stood a_ post-chaise-and-four. Mr Tom Elhot, clearing a way through the collection of young nurses | and infants there assembled, placed his bride in it, followed her in | banged-to the door, and off dashed the post-boys at a gallop. | ‘Never accomplished a feat more cleverly in my life,” chuckled Tom. ‘Loo, my darling, all the fathers in Christendom sha’n’t separate us now.” The groomsman, meanwhile, after watching the chaise fairly away, returned to the vestry, and addressed the clergyman : “Mr. Freer’s compliments, sir, and he begs you will be at his house at seven to-night to celebrate the wedding.” | Mr. Whistler replied in the affirmative, though not without hesita- tion. He had a horror of evening parties, and concluded this was nothing less than a dance. JBut he did not like to refuse on such an occasion, lest he should give offence; and Lawyer Freer’s Easter | offering was always a plumper. | It was seven that evening when Mr. Freer returned home, having snatched a hasty dinner off a pocket sandwich in the Guildhall. Clara had tea ready on the table with a nice ham, for she knew what her father’s dinners were on assize days. “Well, papa,” she said, “is it over? How’s the verdict ?” ‘For Miss Needham, of course,” replied Lawyer Freer, throwing aside his wig and bag, for when fatigued he was addicted to sitting, in private life, in his bald head. ‘I knew we should have it. There | was a clapping of hands in Court when it was delivered. Just get | me my slippers, Clara. Where’s your sister ?” | “She went out after breakfast, telling Nancy she was going to Court with Mrs. Stevens, and might not be home till late.” | “Told Nancy she was going to Court!” uttered the amazed lawyer, pausing in the act of pulling off his boots. “J/y daughter to appear in a public Assize Court! If Squire Turnbull should hear | —Good heavens, Louisa must be out of her mind. And where were my eyes that I did not see her? Ring the bell, Clara.” “IT thought it very extraordinary, papa,” rejoined Clara, not sorry to get her sister into a row. ‘“Nancy,” cried the lawyer, in a fume, when the housemaid Gomicbooks.com|