The Argosy — page 293: what you’re looking at

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

272 The House of Halliwell. Hester had made herself ready by this time, and they went down to the parlour. Not the one where the sewing was. A very handsome tea was set out, Mrs. Zink presiding. ‘The cups and saucers were blue and gold, and a small fringed damask napkin was on each plate. Bread-and-butter, rolls, biscuits, watercress, radishes, marmalade, potted tongue, damson cheese, and a pint jug of cream. Hester saw it with astonishment: if her brother had thought to provide the one half of this, his housekeeping talents must have wonderfully improved. What they seemed to want most was room. And how the chairs for eighteen were stowed into that little parlour must ever be a mystery. Not many could sit round the table ; the rest put their chairs where they could, face to face, or back to back, as they would go in, and held their plates on their laps. When Betty or Jim came in with fresh supplies of hot water, it was taken from them at the door, for there was no getting inside. Jim seemed to enjoy the party as muchas anyone; there was a good-humoured laugh on his face, which never left it. He was a simple-minded young man, very anxious to please, and in bodily fear of his aunt, Betty. But to see the attentions lavished by the ladies upon their minister! ‘‘ Mr. Halliwell, let me give you a little marmalade. I know it is good, for I made it with my own hands.” ‘Oh, Mr. Halliwell, allow me to spread it for you.” ‘Dear Mr. Halliwell, do taste the potted tongue! Now I super- intended it myself, and there’s just the flavour of spice you like.” ‘‘Mr. Halliwell, I am peeling this radish for you, and you must eat it. I will answer for their being fresh, for I pulled them out of our own garden.” ‘Just look, Mr. Halliwell, what a beautiful piece af damson cheese! I have cut it for you. Mamma prides herself upom her damson cheese, and I always assist with it.” ‘‘ My dear, good | Mr. Halliwell, I beg your pardon! I did not perceive your cup was | empty. Permit me to pass it.” And this kept on all tea-time, so that by the time it was over, the Reverend Alfred Halliwell, who was naturally diffident, had a face as red as the radishes. | They turned to the sewing again afterwards, and left about half-past eight o’clock, he going with them. Hester then went into the kitchen, and asked Betty for a candle, thinking she would have a look round her brother’s bedroom, and see if things were comfort- able for him. ““My goodness!” she uttered, when she found herself there. She had never witnessed such a room: the state it was in would have turned her mother crazy. Mrs. Halliwell used to reproach Alfred with never keeping his drawers straight: she should have seen these, inside and out. ‘Ah, miss, you may well stare,” said Betty, who had followed. ‘“When I first see this room yesterday, I heaved up my hands and_ eyes. And when I spoke to master about it, he looked round as if he see it then for the first time. But he did say that he never could — Gomichbooks.com