Moths by Ouida — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

MOTHS. 19 * €* You will wear what I tell you,” said her sweet little mother, sharply; ‘‘ and for goodness’ sake, child, don’t be a prude, what- ever you are. Prudes belong to Noah’s Ark, like your bathing: gown.” | Vere was silent. ‘Is Mr. Vanderdecken here?” she asked, at length, to change the theme, and finding her mother did not speak again, who, in- deed, was busy, thinking what her clothes were likely to cost, and also whether she would arrange a marriage for her with the young Duc de Tambour, son of the Prince de Chambree. The est alliance she could think of at the minute; but then the poor child had no dot. ‘*Mr. Vanderdecken?” said Lady Dolly, waking to the fact. *‘Oh, he is on the sea, going somewhere. He is always going somewhere; it is Java, or Japan, or Jupiter—something with a J. He makes his money in that sort of way, you know. I never understand it myself. Whenever people want money he goes, and he makes it because the people he goes to haven’t got any: isn’t it queer? Come here. Do you know, Vere, you are very pretty? You will be very handsome. Kiss me again dear.” Vere did so, learning, by a kind of intuition, that she must touch her mother without injuring the artistic work of the maids and the ‘‘ little secrets.” Then she stood silent and passive. ‘“‘She is an uncomfortable girl,” thought Lady Dolly once more. ‘‘And, dear me, so like poor Vere! What a tall creature you are getting!’ she said, aloud. ‘*‘ You will be married in another year.” ‘Oh, no!” said Vere, with a glance of alarm. ‘*You unnatural child! How on earth would you like to live if you don’t want to be married?” ‘* With the Fraulein in the country.” ** All your life! And die an old maid?” ‘*T should not mind.” Lady Dolly laughed, but it was with a sort of shock and shudder, as orthodox persons laugh when they hear what is amusing but irreverent. ‘‘Why do you say such things?” she said, impatiently. ‘‘ They are nonsense, and you don’t mean them. ’ ‘‘T mean them—quite.”’ ‘¢ Nonsense!” said Lady Dolly, who never discussed with any- body, finding asseveration answer all purposes very much better; as, indeed, it does in most cases. ‘‘ Well, good-bye, my love; you want to rest, and you can’t go out till you have something to wear, and I have an immense deal to do. Good-bye; you are very pretty!” ‘Who was that gentleman J saw?” asked Vere, as her mother rose and kissed her once more on her silky fair hair. ‘‘Is he any yelation of papa’s? He was very kind.” Lady Dolly colored ever so little. ‘¢Oh! that’s Jack. Surely you remember seeing Jack three years ago at Homburg, when you came out to meet,me there?” ‘Is he a relation of ours?” | Comicbooks (E(0)