The Argosy — page 300: what you’re looking at

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

The House of Halliwell. 279 glad I should be for those two eldest to cut it, out of here. Shall you try for him, now you are come?” He put the question so quaintly, in a joke, as Hester supposed, that she could not forbear laughing. “If you don’t, you'll be an exception to everybody here. I’m sick of the idiots. I think Mab’s making up to him, on the sly. And I suppose Amy would if she had the chance.” “Who is Amy?” questioned Hester. “ She’s next to Fan, between her and Mabel. She lives at my old aunt’s, and never comes to Chelson. ‘The governor’s aunt, you know ; as cranky an old creature as ever was known. I wonder Amy can put up with her; but she ought to give thanks to be out of here, just now. ‘There’s the same row going on in the other houses over the par- son that there is in this. Have you not twigged it at Mother Farley’s ?” “T have not been to Mrs. Farley’s yet,” answered Hester. “Not been Why, who do you mean to say you are, if you are not living there? Arn’t you the little Farleys’ new governess ?” “No, Iam Mr. Halliwell’s sister: staying at the vicarage.” “Oh, my eye!” exclaimed the young gentleman with emphasis, as he stared at Hester with a blank look of amazement. ‘ Well, I have put my foot in it! J’ll make myself scarce. Not that I care, ma’am, if you do tell the parson,” he added, coming back again after springing from his seat. ‘‘‘The missis and the girls will believe me, for another time, that when I say I’ll spoil sport, I mean to do it.” He crossed the room to his sister Mabel, telling her, no doubt, of his awkward mistake, for her face turned crimson as she glanced at Hester. Presently he commenced to drag her across the room towards Hester. “Now, Tracy! now Mabel you about?” For answer, Master Tracy pushed his sister into the chair he had vacated by Hester, and in the bustle of this, Mr. Halliwell came in. He was rapturously received, and requested to ‘“‘sit here,” and “sit there,” but he drew a chair near to his sister and Mabel. “‘ How is it you never come to the working parties?” he asked of the latter. She blushed so prettily that she quite won Hester’s heart. Indeed she seemed to do nothing else but blush, and glanced at Mr. Halli- well with her shy eyes. ‘“ Mamma thinks Matilda and Fanny enough to go—that I should only be in the way. And perhaps she is right, for I do not like work.” “You are very different from everyone else in Chelson,” remarked Mr. Halliwell. ‘They like nothing so well.” “TI like fancy-work,” said Mabel. “And music?” asked Hester. “Oh, yes, and music. I like that better than anything. I wanted | 7? exclaimed Mrs. Zink, “ what are to make acquaintance with you before, Miss Halliwell, but they ECOMMICIOOOKS. EO am