The Craze of Christina — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

42 The Craze of Christina. years; and as for marriage, why you are very young still, and have plenty of time; in the © choice of a wife it is always better to be wary.” **I wish to heaven my uncle had never made me his heir!’’ Thereupon Mr. Scrubb looked at him with sorrow tempered with a strong disapproval. ‘‘That, allow me to remark, Mr. Clifford, isa most improper, and | may add a most ungrate- ful, speech; it is in fact flying in the face of Providence! However, if these are your delib- erate sentiments, the remedy lies in your own hands. You can,if you please, break the condi- tions of your uncle's wiil, in which case the heir presumptive will be the gainer,”’ There was a moment or two of silence. No doubt Mark Clifford with all his irritation was scarcely prepared to do this. ‘By the way,’’ he said presently, in a quieter ~ tone, ‘that is really what I came to you to find out. Who is this Australian cousin? what re- lation is he to me? what is he like? has he a family? and above all, does he know that he has the reversion of my uncle’s will?”’ Mr. Scrubb opened a drawer in his writing- table and took out a bundle of papers. — “Your curiosity 1s perfectiy natural, Mr. comicbooks: ce