A Daughter of Maryland — page 153: what you’re looking at

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

132 A DAUGHTER OF MARYLAND. Aurian found Mr. Northup a very genial gentleman, looking much older than her father, she could not help say-~ ing to herself. His hair and long, heavy whiskers were snow white. But this might not necessarily denote age, as it may have been due to long illness, or been hereditary in his family. Mrs. Northup was a small woman, with a brisk, nervous way of speaking and moving about, but altogether exceedingly agreeable in her manners. Aurian was given a most cordial greeting. ‘*You do not look as much like your father as TI expected,’’ said Mr. Northup, ‘‘but I can see very much of him in your actions. I should judge you might be a pretty tyrant at home,’’ he added good-naturedly. | ‘“Why, Elias!@how saucy of you,’’ declared his wife. **Aurian, you must not mind his wicked ways until you get used to them, and then I am sure you will not. I think you must be heavier than Ella. ’’ ‘*Hold on there, wife!’’ broke in her husband. ‘‘I should like to know which has given the greater cause for offense, you with your impertinent mention of a subject that is always disagreeable to a woman of fine sensibilities and I with my well-turned compliment of an independence that every true woman must possess. ’’ ‘*Well, between father anc mother you will begin to think, Aurian, that you have fallen among birds of prey that are determined to pick you to pieces. The fact is we have anticipated so much in regard to you, and find ourselves so mistaken in many respects that I suppose we are unduly rude. Then, too, we live very plainly, and we -neyer believe in bringing family cares into the sitting- room, relegating them to their proper places in the kitchen and the office. Since father has given up his business so much to Mr. Southard, you see we have very much of his nonsense. I suppose you were surprised to find Mr. Southard here, as he told us that you could not be aware of his living in Machine Falls. I don’t know what father comicbooks co m