A Fair Fraud — page 208: what you’re looking at

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

A Fair Fraud 197 nobleman she had mentioned—only that he was not Mrs Lane’s husband! ‘Oh, my dear Mrs Lane, I know, I know! It’s not, of course, Hester’s 627th I alluded to; that I am sure is good enough ; but, unfortun- ately, she has no fortune—although, as I said yesterday, if Mr Drury consents to waive that, I don’t know that I need make any objections—’ ‘The objection, at the present moment, lies with my daughter herself,’ interrupted Mrs Lane, with a little asperity. ‘ Hester refuses to marry Captain Drury.’ ‘But you assured me last night that she would change her mind.’ ‘I hoped she would. Because I am quite convinced that the dear child loves him. But she is obstinate. One cannot be surprised. Dearest Hetty’s delicacy of mind is so very great, she will not move a finger towards beckoning Captain Drury back.’ ‘I should hope not! MHester would not, I trust, be so unwomanly.’ ‘No, of course not. At the same time, if your son were to press her very much, I feel sure she would yield; her affectionate heart could not withstand him.’ ‘I daresay not. No doubt he will renew his suit. Kenneth is obstinate, too.’ ‘Ah, well, he has only this evening, you know. We go to-morrow.’ ElOOO©