The Dugdale Millions — page 275: what you’re looking at

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

IN IMMINENT PERIL. 265 ‘*Perhaps you might be induced to assume a differ- ent position in this affair.”’ Wallis noticed both the increase of tenderness of tone and the significance of his words. Alarmed and annoyed, she replied, and this time with some asperity in her tone: ‘‘Now don’t be foolish, Lord Merrimount, and spoil good friendship by trying to be gallant. You are much more endurable when you are simply an English gentleman.”’ “I don’t want you to regard me as anything else,’ he replied very soberly. ‘‘I am both earnest and truthful when I tell you that it was a charming little person, with a ready tongue and bright eyes, who was fhe care case of my quick return. I neyer knew until I had gone away how much her companionship was to me.”’ By this time they had left Bessie and Dick far behind and reached the roof of the tunnel. Wallis cast a swift upward glance at him; encountering his dark brown eyes keenly scrutinizing her, she suddenly left his side and walked hastily to the platform from which she could look down upon the railroad tracks below. Merrimount followed her and taking place beside her laid his hand upon hers as it rested upon the rail. He said kindly and indeed earnestly: ‘Do not misunderstand me. JI am very much in earnest. Regarding you as I do, the last thing I should attempt to do would be to trifle with you! I am in no trifling mood, During all my journey, when my face was turned in this direction, I thought of little else than the approaching time when I could say these things to you and “Stop!” cried Wallis, interrupting him and drawing her hand hastily from under his, as she turned upon him sharply and squarely, her eyes flashing and her face suffused. ‘You have no right to say these thingsto me. Surely Comicbockk C@© 3}