A Fair Fraud — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

144 A Fair Fraud I must speak to her again before she goes.’ ‘I don't think Miss Lane will have any other answer to give you now—and—and time might help you so much—Cousin Kenneth!’ But Captain Drury was not to be persuaded, and Marion had to go away and leave him. She was glad that Hester had had the strength to refuse him. She supposed that it was un- avoidable that Kenneth should have declared himself; but at least Hester, in refusing him, had done what was upright and honourable. She could not avoid saying as much to Mr Naylor when she found herself by his side again at the dinner-table. ‘What has become of the fair Hester?’ Naylor inquired of her. ‘Why is she con- spicuous by her absence?’ ‘She has refused my cousin. And the Lanes are probably leaving to-morrow!’ replied Marion, quietly, and there was a decided note of triumph in her voice. Edgar Naylor lifted his eyebrows superciliously, to Marion’s fancy, and she almost hated him at the moment for it. He made no reply. Marion lost her temper frankly. ‘What a detestable mind it must be that always believes the worst of people!’ she ex- claimed with an angry flush that had the effect of making her look extremely pretty, as COMNMUC JOO <S (GO)