The Dugdale Millions — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

A REVELATION. 15 forsooth, her father favors his suit. Bah, I’d despise such a man, as every girlof spirit would. Mr. Mason wouldn’t do such a thing. No, he’d rather run away with the girl first and ask the father afterward.”’ **Therefore, you do not despise Mr. Mason,” remarked Wallis with a sly glance. “I don’t say that I despise him, or I don’t! Why should I? However, you are wrong.’’ *‘And why, my pretty demure puss?’’ **Because—because I know.”’’ *‘Most excellent reason, but not very clear,’’ re- plied the cynic on the lounge. **Well, I’ve seen Mr. Mason—only a day or two ago.”’ “Oh, where? Tell me all about it.’’ Cynicism lost in interest. ‘“"At the Negleys’. He came up to the garden party. And we had a long—well we had atalk. And Wallis, what do you think he told me?”’ **Oh, go on, don’t be so slow telling it.”’ ‘‘He said that my father had given him a direct hint that his calls at our house were not quite the thing in a clerk.”’ f ioe beast!” *“‘Who? Mr. Mason?” ‘‘No, your father. You agreed with your father of course.”’ ‘‘Of course I didn’t. I couldn’t be so impolite.”’ *‘What did you tell him? That they were just the thing and you wept when they were not?”’ ‘‘Nonsense! I evaded any reply—in words that ts.” ‘““Oh! But made him understand that the daughter differed with the father on this important question?’ ‘‘Not at all. He was so pressing—so ardent in fact, that I had to play stiff Miss Propriety, and then you know we had been for an hour in the greenery by ourselves—Heavens!’’ she broke off with a scream, CoMmicloeo® S C@© 3