The Argosy — page 296: what you’re looking at

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

| EE —= HC —— a A = ae ill amt Se — etl i) The House of Halliwell. 275 ostensibly to Hester, but she thought they were really meant for Alfred. One of them, Miss Butler, who came with her aunt, left a thin parcel of tissue paper in Mr. Halliwell’s hands, expressing a hope that he would find the contents useful. He opened it as soon as she was gone. “Took here, Hester! Do you think I can wear these ?” It was a pair of fine bands, hem-stitched and trimmed round with a sort of lace, very narrow, the work of the hand. “Of course you cannot wear them,” was Hester’s astonished reply. ““T never heard of any bands but plain ones being worn. What possesses all the ladies you have come amongst ?” Mr. Halliwell laughed. ‘‘I never met with so good-natured a set as these Chelson people. Hester, I do think I might wear these ; I do not like to appear ungrateful.” “You cannot wear the bands,” peremptorily returned Hester. “Don’t talk nonsense. I wish my mother could have come here instead of me.” “Why soe” * Because, Alfred, you are running into danger, and need warning counsel. When a parcel of women can beset a clergyman, because he happens to be unmarried, as these Chelson people are besetting you, my opinion is that they possess neither judgment nor modesty. And I am sure they have no religion.” “Hester, I strive to do right—to adhere to the line of duty.” “I believe you wish to do so, Alfred. But they are rendering it difficult.” On the following Sunday morning, as Hester was passing upstairs to get ready for church, her brother’s door stood open, and she _ espied these identical bands laid out on his dressing-table, side by side with a pair of plain ones. Hester felt grievously vexed, for it convinced her he was debating with himself whether he should wear them. She darted in, seized them on the spur of the moment, flew | quietly down the stairs, popped them into Betty’s kitchen fire, and flew back again. Presently he came up and went into his chamber : he had been preparing the bread for the Sacrament, for it was the first Sunday in June. “ Hester,” he called out, “have you taken those bands of Miss Butler’s 2?” “IT taken them !” she answered, frightened to death ; ‘‘ what should bring me with them? It is more than half-past ten, Alfred. Make haste.” “Did you think the wind was very high this morning?” he pre- _sently asked again. Hester sat down to laugh, and thought she should have choked. _ He imagined they had blown out at the window. ‘“ Oh, very high,” | responded Hester, when. she could speak. ‘Don’t you see the poplars blowing about ?” CoOnniclooolKs (C©)