The Dugdale Millions — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

14 THE DUGDALE MILLIONS. comes with the blessing of the father upon the union, before there has been a word of love.”’ ‘‘Let us go over to Aunt Ellen and get her to cut the cards for its meaning,’’ laughed Wallis. ‘‘The dear old girl isin the humor for it. She isin great grief to-day.”’ ‘*In great grief?’’ repeated Bessie, in wonder. **Yes, in great grief. She dreamed last night that she saw Uncle Andrew kissing a beautiful woman in a red shawl, and she is so jealous of that woman that she 1s to-day bemoaning her sad fate and the misery she is subjected to.’’ *“‘Oh, no; we won’t go,’’ replied Bessie, “‘we will only be treated to a lament over the miseries of matri- mony and a lecture on the joys of spinsterhood.”’ **Perhaps, Bess,’’ exclaimed Wallis, after a moment of silence, during which she had curled herself into a queer little heap on the lounge, ‘‘perhaps Mr. Mason has declared himself to your father.’’ The color rose to the cheeks of the fair young girl, and she said with an evident effort at contempt: ‘“Mr. Mason! If he has, I shall say no at once, and most emphatically.’’ ‘““Why?’’ asked Wallis, her black eyes opened to their fullest extent. ‘“‘Bess, you mustn’t tell me you don’t like him, for I know that you do. Don’t you think I have seen it?’’ ‘Do you suppose,*’ retorted Bessie, with much haste, as if she found refuge in the words, ‘‘do you suppose that I could have any respect for a man who would go to your father before he sued for your hand? Certainly not. That would be taking all the spirit out the affair, It must be like that drink your uncle takes, when he burns all the alcohol out of his brandy. Just think of it!) Afraid to speak to the girl before he gets the father’s consent, then having obtained it, comes expecting her to fall down before him, because, Comicloo® S C@ 3