The Argosy — page 393: what you’re looking at

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

370 The House of Halliwell. CHAPTER XIII. LUCY’S ROMANCE. MEANWHILE they began to be actively engaged, getting Lucy ready for her wedding. One morning they were in the midst of work, Miss Bowen, the dressmaker, having gone to them for the day, when they saw Captain Kerleton approaching the house. Lucy told Pheeby to say they were engaged, but would see him in the afternoon. But the Captain sent word up he had something very particular to communi- cate to Miss Lucy; so she had to go to him. The Captain wanted her to go for a walk, with, of course, Hester or Aunt Copp, for she was not in the habit of walking out alone with him. Which was the “ particular communication” he had to make. “Tt is out of my power this morning,” Lucy replied. ‘‘We have some work about, which we cannot quit.” “Leave them to do it,” advised the Captain ; ‘‘ you come for a walk. Come by yourself: never mind what that old Aunt Copp says.” “They cannot do without me,” explained Lucy. ‘“ The dress- maker is cutting out my morning dresses, and I must be there that she may try them on.” “Put it off till to-morrow,” urged the Captain. ‘“ Work can be ~ done one day as well as another. See what a splendid morning it 1s.” ‘“Miss Bowen will not be here to-morrow,” answered Lucy. ‘ In- deed I cannot leave them now.” ‘ But I want you to come,” persisted Captain Kerleton, somewhat after the fractious manner of a spoiled child. ‘ You must come. You'll never go and set up your rubbish of work in opposition to my wishes, Miss Lucy ?” “Do not put it in that light,” said Lucy, gently. ‘‘ My dresses must be tried on, or they cannot be made; and if I went out they would all be at a standstill. I shall be most happy to go with you later in the day.” ‘Then you will not grant me this simple favour P” ‘“T cannot,” returned Lucy, and away rushed the Captain, dashing to the front door, and stamping across the road. In the evening he arrived again. ‘They were at tea, taking it in the workroom for convenience’ sake, when Phceby entered and said the Captain wanted to speak to Hester. ‘‘Not Miss Lucy,” Phoeby repeated, ‘‘ Miss Hester.” Hester went downstairs. Captain Kerle- ton was sitting in the easy-chair, looking red and excited. “Do you know how she behaved to me this morning?” he began, without preface or ceremony. “Whore” asked Hester. ‘She. Miss Lucy. I asked her, as the greatest favour, to go for | Gomicbooks.com(|