Page:Life's little ironies (1894).pdf/210

should they see looking out of the upper window of a house that stood beside the road they were following but Hannah Joiliver, another young beauty of the place at that time, and the very first woman that Tony had fallen in love with— before Milly and before Unity, in fact—the one that he had almost arranged to marry instead of Milly. She was a much more dashing girl than Milly Richards, though he'd not thought much of her of late. The house Hannah was looking from was her aunt's.

"'My dear Milly-——-my coming wife, as I may call ’ee,’ says Touy in his modest way, and not so loud that Unity could overhear ‘I see a young woman looking out of window who I think may accost me. The fact is, Milly, she had a notion that I was wishing to marry her, and since she’s discovered I’ve promised another, and prettier than she, Pm rather afeared of her temper if she sees us together. Now, Milly, would you do me a favor—my coming wife, as I may say?

“'Certainly, dearest Tony,’ says she.

“'Then would ye creep under the tarpaulin jast here in the front of the wagon, and hide there out of sight till we’ve passed the house? She hasn’t seen us yet. You see, we ought to live in peace and good-will since ‘tis almost Christmas, and "twill prevent angry passions rising, which we always should do.’

“I don’t mind, to oblige you, Tony,’ Milly said ; and though she didn’t care much about doing it, she crept under, and crouched down just behind the seat, Unity being snug at the other end. So they drove on till they got near the road-side cottage. Hannah had soon seen him coming, and waited at the window, locking down upon him, She tossed her head a little diedainful and smiled off-hand.

“Well, aren't you going to be civil enough to ask