Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

OCTAVIA’S PRIDE. 31 «‘Another of your absurdities!” was the elder gentleman’s angry retort. ‘* Felix understands what he is about, and I am fully acquainted with his affairs. So you may set your mind at rest there. I only wish I were half as well se ee aati with your behavior.” : The handsome, clear-eyed young fellow shrugged his shoulders and gave a comical grimace. ‘‘T wish, then, you would put this obnoxious affair into the hands of Felix. It is more to his taste, you admit. Why not give him the management?” «Felix really does have the management,” answered Mr. Middleton, meditatively, ‘‘only he does not like to have it appear so. He does not want them to mistrust yet that he has any connection with us.” | “Ha!” exclaimed Maurice; ‘‘so my vague conjectures prove true! Mr. Felix Middleton does not wish it known that his father and brother are in town. Humph! I trust my affairs will never be in such a ‘satisfactory’ state that I am ashamed to own my relatives. Jam sure I shall never - be willing to compromise my own honor so much as to be willing to take any management which cannot be known to all the word.” “Absurd, quixotic boy! I cannot imagine how you came to be so unlike your brother, “nor where you acquired such weak and silly ideas.” The soft hazel eye took on a-sudden flash; the lip curled haughtily. ‘‘ Father! father! let me shes keep such weakness and silliness! Mayhap the time will come when I can show vou what is true strength and wisdom. Mayhap you will be able to test your two sons, and find out which is wanting. Mayhap But here he broke off with a light laugh, and shook away the sudden fire of emotion which had come over him. ** Pshaw!.it is absurd in me to quarrel about this thing. <S) €o © | | Eomicboo