The Dugdale Millions — page 291: what you’re looking at

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

THe COURSE OF TRCE LOV 2, 281 “T know that,” replied her father sharply, “and f regret it as much as any man can, since it is sup- posed, although I do not believe it, that this mishap occurred in our service. I do not mean that. 1 want to know what was the meaning of this meeting without my knowledge.” “Tt presume you mean between Mr. Mason and my- self,” replied Bessie, not evading the issue her father sought. “ That was purely accidental. Until I went to Springhill with Lord Merrimount, I did not know that Mr. Mason was there. He had come up quite unexpectedly, although Wallis had written for him to come. Not knowing whether he was in town, she had not informed anyone that he might possibly arrive.” This was true, as Mr. Hetlow had learned from Mr. Stanton earlier in the evening. It was a moment or two before he spoke again. “I should have supposed,”’ he said, “that, after our conversation upon this topic some time ago, you would have refused to go upon the river with him.” “‘T should have done so, had the proposal been for me to go with him alone,” she replied. ‘ But there was nothing in our conversation which was anything like a command from you that 1 was not to talk with him when we met. You had threatened to forbid him the house, but subsequently you asked him there, and you saw me meet him and talk with him, briefly to be sure.” “But that was in my presence,” replied her father sternly ; “you know very well, if I did not put my thought in the form of a command, that what I sought to do was to put an end to the relation between you, and especially after your unwomanly declaration that, if he were to offer himself, you would accept him.” The use of the word “unwomanly” aroused Bessie’s spirit. “ After what I have passed through this evening,” she said, “I do not feel like entering into a contest Comicboolk C@© 3