A Fair Fraud — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

84 A Fair Fraud but at heart she could not avoid feeling some- what flattered. ‘I do not see how a clever man can possibly receive any help from a girl like myself.’ | ‘Indeed, I am convinced that you can be of the very greatest help to me if you will only consent to act with me.’ ‘But, Mr Naylor, are you aware of my position in this house? Iam not Mr and Mrs Drury’s niece at all, really. I am only the child of a distant cousin, and they adopted me out of charity. My status here is a_ very humble and insignificant one. I am Mrs Drury’s companion, and I very rarely appear downstairs when there is company in the house. On this occasion I am merely here to obey orders because Mrs Havering was taken ill. It is very good of you indeed to take the trouble to speak to me at all—’ ‘Don't talk nonsense,’ he interrupted im- patiently. ‘What on earth do you suppose I care what your “status” is, or whether you are Mrs Drury’s niece or companion? As a matter of fact, you are a very pretty girl, and what is better still, you are a very clever girl, and that is quite enough for me, so don't talk any more rubbish about yourself.’ ‘I thought you didn’t want to be complimen- tary, said Marion, with a little blushing smile. She found it very pleasant to be called pretty Goo