The Craze of Christina — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

- 58 The Craze of Christina. left intact and uninvaded by the all-pervading George Jones and his minions, and on a Satur- day all the workmen went away early. Why not give an entertainment on a_ large scale in these rooms? A few cards had been left upon Mr. Clifford during his week’s absence in town; the return visits had been much upon his mind; why not do off all his social duties at one fell swoop by issuing cards of his own to a general tea fight? he would not then at all events be driven into a téte-a’-téte with Miss Maud Om- maney. The idea commended itself much to his mind, especially as such an invitation would naturally embrace Miss Ashley—‘‘Miss Ashiey and— party,’ he thought that that mysterious word might possibly bring the ‘“‘shop girl,’’ so-called, to his door. No, he knew that she was not a shop girl. What a malicious slanderer was Maud Ommaney! That face, those eyes, that smile! how could they be the face and eyes and smile of a shop girl? Impossible! He hast- ened his steps as he thought of the mysterious face, hoping to catch sight of it once again over the top of the blind as he passed the ‘olde shoppe’ on his way home. This time, he said to himself, he would be no coward; her mock- ing smile should not cause him to fly like a Comichbookszco