. Wives and daughters : an every-day story . s he came near, before herecognized who it was. When he overtook him he said,— Why, Osborne, is it you ? I thought it was an old man offifty loitering before me ! I didnt know you had come back. Yes, said Osborne, Ive been at home nearly ten days. Idaresay I ought to have called on your people, for I made a halfpromise to Mrs. Gibson to let her know as soon as I returned; butthe fact is, Im feeling very good-for-nothing,—this air oppressesme ; I could hardly breathe in the house, and yet Im already tiredwith this short walk. ** Youd better get home
. Wives and daughters : an every-day story . s he came near, before herecognized who it was. When he overtook him he said,— Why, Osborne, is it you ? I thought it was an old man offifty loitering before me ! I didnt know you had come back. Yes, said Osborne, Ive been at home nearly ten days. Idaresay I ought to have called on your people, for I made a halfpromise to Mrs. Gibson to let her know as soon as I returned; butthe fact is, Im feeling very good-for-nothing,—this air oppressesme ; I could hardly breathe in the house, and yet Im already tiredwith this short walk. ** Youd better get home at once; and Ill call and see you as Icome back from Howes. No, you mustnt on any account! said Osborne, hastily; my father is annoyed enough about my going from home, so often,he says, though I hadnt been from it for six weeks. He puts downall my languor to my having been away,—he keeps the purse-strings,you know, he added, with a fiiint smile, and Im in the unluckyposition of a penniless heir, and Ive been brought up so—In fact, I. BUSII-FIGHTIXG. S27 must leave home from time to time, and, if my father gets confirmedin this notion of his that my health is worse for my absence, he willstop the supplies altogether. * May I ask where you do spend your time when you are not atHamley Hall ? asked Mr. Gibson, with some hesitation in hismanner. No ! replied Osborne, reluctantly. * I will tell you this :—Istay with friends in the country. I lead a life which ought to beconducive to health, because it is thoroughly simple, rational, andhappy. And now Ive told you more about it than my father himselfknows. He never asks me where I have been ; and I shouldnt tellhim if he did—at least, I think not. Mr. Gibson rode on by Osbornes side, not speaking for a momentor two. Osborne, whatever scrapes you may have got into, I shouldadvise your telling your father boldly out. I know him; and I knowhell be angi-y enough at first, but hell come round, take my wordfor it; and, somehow o
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