The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

MR. GUNTHORPE 91 pleasantly,” observed Lord Harold, “ will continue for ever. But when I look at you, Mr. Gunthorpe, I really think you might marry again. A hale, active, intelligent, good-looking gentleman like yourself — ”’ ‘“ But I am sixty,’’ said Mr. Gunthorpe. ‘Pooh, nonsense! you make a mistake. You can’t be more than forty-five.’’ “Well, perhaps I am not,’’ observed the old gentleman, looking uncommonly bewildered and owlish. ‘‘ My father and mother must have deceived me, and I will go and consult the parish registers to-morrow. But about this marriage? In addition to all the other things you are going to find me, can you manage a suitable wife? ”’ ‘“ T have no doubt of it,” replied Harold. “ I have already got a dowager countess in my eye for you, and if she won’t do, then there’s a splendid baroness with eight thousand a ear.” “Oh, between the two I am pretty sure to be suited,” observed Mr. Gunthorpe, refilling his glass again, while Harold looked across the table to Saxondale with a glance that implied what a precious old fool their companion was. ‘And what fun we will have at the wedding!’’ cried Edmund. “ But again I say that you overwhelm me with obliga- tions,’ observed Mr. Gunthorpe, appearing to speak with more and more difficulty, and to be troubled with more frequent hiccups. “Well,” said Lord Harold, assuming quite a careless, indifferent tone, and speaking in an offhand manner, “‘ it does so happen just at the present crisis that I am pressed for five thousand. In fact, | have overdrawn my bankers, and 1f you would accommodate me for six weeks or a couple of months — ”’ “Oh, certainly,” replied Mr. Gunthorpe, “ with the greatest pleasure in the world. Five thousand is a poor loan to advance to one who is going to assist me in buying estates, horses, carriages, and so on, and who is first to pro- vide me with a mistress and then with a wife. Give me pen and ink.”’ Mr. Gunthorpe had madé this speech in a somewhat more fluent and collected manner than he had been talking for the last hour, and, indeed, both Harold and Edmund were GoOmicdoo <S (FO)