A Fair Fraud — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

16 A Fair Fraud ‘Then why on earth—?’ began Mrs Drury, with relief, for his words dispersed her momen- tary alarm. ‘Why on earth do I say that Marion Blake is pretty?’ cried her son, gaily. ‘My dearest mother, do be fair! As I said before, I have got eyes in my head, and with those orbs I do most plainly perceive that your little slavey has two nice soft brown eyes of her own, and a delicious little turned-up nose, not to speak of a rosebud of a mouth whom any man might consider himself lucky to kiss.’ | But at that his mother was annoyed in earnest. ‘You are talking a great deal of nonsense, my dear,’ she said quite shortly and coldly. ‘I hope you will never turn the poor child’s head by saying such things to her, and I do wish you. wouldn't call Marion my “slavey’— it sounds dreadful.’ ‘Well, but isn’t she your white slave, mother ?’ ‘Nothing of the sort,’ replied Mrs Drury, - who was a very literal-minded person. ‘There is no vestige of slavery in the matter. She is your father’s adopted niece, and a very lucky girl, too, when you come to think what a good home she has tumbled into—a girl without a single farthing in the world! And here, she is fed and clothed and housed in luxury from GOMMGIOO oO C' Q)