A Fair Fraud — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

118 A Fair Fraud Why, indeed, should not her husband’s shoot- ing-parties be on as fashionable a basis as the Earl of Custin’s? She began to reconsider her decision. ‘Well, I don’t know how I can refuse, Mrs Lane, though I should not think of driving five miles in an open carriage myself this weather; but if you and Hester are really bent upon it—well, yes, I suppose you could certainly go. I can order the wagonette of course instead of the dogcart.’ ‘Oh! thanks so much, dearest Mrs Drury. You ave good and kind, and Hetty will be so _ delighted! It wzd/ be a treat to her, dear child.’ Then up spoke Marion Blake from her corner. ‘Aunt Fanny, may I go too? There would be room for me in the wagonette.’ ‘ You, Marion? Good gracious, what next?’ Mrs Lane had stopped short by the door at the sound of Miss Blake’s voice. She turned slowly round and looked at her. Through the elder woman’s mind there flashed the question, ‘Why does she want to go?’ Then her lips curved into a smile, although her eyes remained grave, which gave her an odd expression of watchfulness. ‘Oh! do come, Miss Blake,’ she said gush- ingly. ‘Let Miss Blake come, f/ease, Mrs GOMMGIOO <S (GO) uu