The Argosy — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

74 A Tale of the Temple. for a blanket or arug! However, the distance was increasing every moment. Hurrah! The Lodge at last! Knock—knock—kno—ck. Why don’t they answer? Knock— knock; bang—bang. Good heavens! ‘There is no one in—and the distance between me and the church-goers is decreasing. Yes, gradually but steadily decreasing. What shall I do? If only I had boots on I would kick the door down, but one slipper is useless for such a purpose. Knock, bang—knock, bang! “ Fulloa, there! What’s all that noise about ?” A voice from the inside. ‘The door opens. ‘The porter, who is at first completely taken aback at the apparition he sees, thinks a raving maniac is before him, and would have shut me out. But I don’t give him the chance, and nearly overturning him, rush into the house—and am saved. Explanations take place, a messenger is sent for my laundress, who resides somewhere in the neighbourhood, and I am provided with some kind of clothing. After the expiration of half an hour my emissary returns and says with a chuckle : “Please, sir, Mrs. Tibbits is gone to Richmond, and they don’t know when she will be back.” “ Didn’t you find out when she 1s likely to return ?” ‘Well, sir, they did say as how they didn’t s’pose she’d be back afore about of a seven or half-past.” And my dinner was at seven o'clock ! I will not detain you with a description of the mental agonies I endured that afternoon. My whole future seemed to depend upon my getting to that dinner. If I were not there by seven o’clock, an un- favourable construction might be put upon my absence which no amount of subsequent explanation would remove. My absence, or even my late arrival would certainly give offence, and would probably imperil my matrimonial prospects. How many times I sent to inquire if that confounded Richmond- going laundress had returned, I don’t know. As the long hours went by my anxiety increased. However, all suspense was at last put an end to at half-past six by the arrival of the key: and as the clock struck seven I was knocking at my uncle’s door. me ih eg PP Kap SE RII GomilGcbooks.co (@)