The Dugdale Millions — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

A PERVERSE MAIDEN. 117 ‘*You have just chosen to tell me my conduct 3s singular—that I have conducted myself without rea- son,’’ returned Bessie, following up sharply her advar- tage. ‘‘And, the last time we conversed alone, you informed me I was sordid, grasping, avaricious; pos- sessing an unholy ambition to shine in circles beyond me; willing, in order to achieve such ambitions, to seize riches which did not belong to me; that I was opposed to a search for the rightful heir, and that 1n your high devotion to duty you would exert all in your power to find the man, so as to save me from myself.’’ Dick stared at her, dumb in his amazement. He was aghast at the ingenuity with which she perverted the words used in that heated interview. ‘“One would suppose,’’ continued Bessie, ‘ ‘that hav- ing so low an estimate of a woman, any words of ex- planation she might utter would have no weight with you. So detestable a creature as I must appear to you should be without sufficient interest to induce you to desire any intercourse with her.”’ “‘Interest?’’ weakly repeated Dick, as if he was grasping at the only significant word she had uttered. **But,’’ Bessie went on, ‘“‘whether or not I am all you suppose me to be, and you have not wasted deli- cacy in your effort to leave me in no doubt as to your opinion, I deny your authority to rebuke or to criti- cise me.” Dick gathered himself together with an effort. Sev- eral moments passed before he spoke, and when he did it was in gentle tones and with a most respectful air. “IT must have another existence of which I am not now conscious.”’ She turned to him puzzled. **I do not understand you,’’ she said. ‘Unlike Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, who always re- tained consciousness of the other existence, I do not; for I have no recollection of the other Mason whe has said these things.”’ Comicbooks.€© 3