The Argosy — page 394: what you’re looking at

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

The House of Halliwell. 371 a little walk with me, and she told me to my face that she would not.” ‘She really could not, Captain Kerleton,” said Hester. ‘I have no doubt she would have liked to do so. You must not fancy she acted from caprice: Lucy is not capable of it.” “She told me there was some trash of sewing going on, and she had to stop in for it.” *‘ It was the case.” “Well,” returned the Captain, speaking in that dogged, obstinate manner which now and then came over him, ‘ I look upon it in this light. When a young lady, who has promised to be your wife, makes an excuse that she can’t go out with you, it is equivalent to saying she wants to break matters off. That is how I have taken it.” ‘‘ Break—what?” uttered Hester, staring at the Captain, and feeling as if she were turning into a cold perspiration. “Why, I conclude that Miss Lucy wished to make known, in a roundabout way, that she was tired of me. And I have acted upon it.” “Dear Captain Kerleton, you are entirely mistaken,” said Hester. *‘T can assure you Lucy is perfectly faithful to you. The work she had to stay in for was in preparation for her marriage.” “Tt’s too late now,” said the Captain, with redoubled obstinacy, ‘for I think I know somebody who would suit me better.” Hester sat opposite to him, glued to her chair, unable to utter a word, and wondering whether he had taken leave of his senses. He, however, was not glued to his, for he suddenly rose from it, and dropped down on his knees close to Hester. ‘““My dear Miss Hester, it’s you and nobody else. I do think you the most charming, amiable creature, and I have transferred my affection from Miss Lucy to you. Will you have me?” Hester was never so taken aback in her life, and a suspicion did cross her, in earnest, that Lucy’s refusal in the morning must have put the Captain’s brains to flight. He took forcible possession of her hands, and would neither get up, nor let her do so. While they were in this ridiculous position, who should come bustling into the room, with the sugar-basin, but Aunt Copp. ‘““Why, what on earth—Hester! what’s the matter ? ” The Captain took a move sideways on his knees, and addressed himself to Aunt Copp, which afforded an opportunity to Hester of rising. “Miss Lucy has cut me, ma’am. That is, she acted—purposely —so as to make me cut her; and my affections are now fixed on Miss Hester. I was on the point of praying her to name her own day for our union, when you interrupted us.” “Good. patience deliver us!” ejaculated Aunt Copp, her mouth opening with astonishment, and remaining so. ‘‘ What is all this?” _ Hester could not speak for laughing then, the whole thing struck COMICoOoOkKS ) (SO)