The Dugdale Millions — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

118 THE DUGDALE MILLIONS. ‘Do you mean to say you did not say them to me?”” she asked indignantly. ‘“By no means. I mean tosay that Iam not now con- scious of the existence of myself when I did say them.”’ “Which is only your polite way of telling me that I am untruthful,’’ she broke in hotly. Yet, when Bessie gave utterance to these words, which she knew would wound him, she wounded herself, for she saw that Dick was endeavoring to evade a contest with her, and she was fully aware she had put a perverse construction upon their former conversation the facts did not warrant. Moreover, they were just what she did not want to utter. But she could not restrain herself. Oh! If he would only go away, so that she could have a good cry, and then come back to her, how easily matters could be smoothed. But there he obstinately remained, seek- ing words to placate her and make her listen to reason. She knew well what he was striving todo. She was angry with herself that she could not abandon her mood and give him that assistance she dearly desired to give, and so she visited her anger upon him. All this time he was leaning against the rock, his face very sober and very anxious, and his eyes very troubled. He was too earnest and too much en- grossed to think of his attitude, but Bessie did not fail to recognize its unstudied grace, and she thought she had never seen him looking so handsome. She pitied him from the bottom of her heart for the trouble he was in—the trouble which was of her own making. Then she knew that she loved him deeply. Why would he not see this? Why would he not rise up in his wrath and bid her to silence? Why would he not take that mastership over her which was his to take, and to which she would yield, only too willingly, if he would but exert it? She had no patience with him. Why had he not the address to see that she wanted him to take the very authority she denied him? Comicboolkks