A Fair Fraud — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

32 A Fair Fraud perfectly easy. Any fool can do it. I saw old Mrs Drury had a craze for chickens, so of course I instantly pretended that chickens were the most interesting things on earth to me.’ ‘Yes, that may be all very well for you, mummy; but you really can’¢ expect me to talk about Cochin China fowls to an old woman? I really don’t care in the least whether she likes me or not. Why should I?” added Hetty, carelessly, and then she yawned wearily, and widely, once more. ‘She happens to be Captain Drury’s mother, that’s all,’ remarked Mrs Lane, drily and signi- ficantly, ‘and it happens to be to your own interest to get on well with her—that is to say if you want to marry Kenneth Drury.’ A little pause. Hetty’s beautiful mocking face grew suddenly grave—almost sad. She looked into the fire, and a coal dropped noisily out. | ‘I am not quite sure that I do want to marry him,’ she observed at last rather thoughtfully ; ‘there are one or two substantial reasons why I should not.’ Mrs Lane sprang from her chair, and turned round upon her daughter angrily. ‘Hetty, you drive me frantic! Haven't we settled it that you mxs¢t marry soon, and what better man than Captain Drury do you want, oO C' Q) GOMMGIOO