A Fair Fraud — page 272: what you’re looking at

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

A Fair Fraud 261 ‘It is so like you, Hetty,’ she said irritably, ‘to grudge me this one poor little pleasure. I am sure I have little fun enough in my crushed and spoilt life.’ ‘Dearest mother, I do not grudge it you; but pray consider your health. You have a shocking cold, and the wind is biting, and you have not been out for two days.’ ‘Don’t torment me! I intend to go!’ cried Mrs Bradford. She stamped her foot angrily, and refused to listen to reason. To add to her folly, she in- sisted on wearing a low dress and a flimsy, unlined, silk opera cloak—a relic of better days —instead of the well-worn fur cape which her daughter implored her to put on. ‘You would like me to look dowdy and shabby, I know,’ she retorted, with unreason- ing jealousy, ‘just because General Dacre said he should join us in the box, and you think you will cut me out.’ ‘Oh! how can you be so unjust? Wear my cloak then. Jt is warmer than that thin summer one.’ ‘And hideously unbecoming to me. No, thank you. I am not going to look a fright to please you—to divert General Dacre’s attention to yourself.’ ‘My dear mother, what is General Dacre to me? I never saw him in my life,’ and Hester ElLOOO oO G' Q)