A Fair Fraud — page 186: what you’re looking at

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

a A Fair Fraud 176 story, inte which her little fingers had become twisted, seemed to be beyond her power to smooth out and make straight. ‘So, you see,’ went on Mrs Drury, pre- sently, ‘that if I am to have dear Hester living with us always as Kenneth’s wife, why —why—’ ‘Why, you won't want me any more, aunt!’ broke in Marion, and she laughed a little bitterly, and then jumped up and poked the fire rather viciously. ‘That is why, my love, we hope you will encourage Mr Naylor, and not throw away the splendid chances that seem to have providen- tially been sent to you.’ ‘I don’t really see any connection between the two ideas, aunt.’ ‘Don’t be obstinate, Marion. Really, I have no patience with you. After all that I have taken the trouble to explain to you! which, pray remember, I have to!d you in the strictest con- fidence, as nothing will be definitely settled or given out, by Mrs Lane’s express wish, for the next two days. She doesn’t want her daughter to be hustled or hurried at all——a most careful mother, I call her. Still, now I have told you about it, you ought to see for yourself how important it is that your own future should be settled, and here is a brilliant match—far beyond our highest hopes for you. A rising GOMMGIOO <S (GO) uu