The Dugdale Millions — page 302: what you’re looking at

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

202 THE DUGDALE MILLIONS. as Lord Merrimount. I must win her as a commoner without reference to my rank and station, and solely by reason of my ability to impress my qualities upon her -[ am very much. pleased that it isso. and rising as he spoke, “I know that if I am successful in my suit, I shall have won a heart of gold as well asa most charming companion.” Mr. Stanton rose at the same moment and said feeling ly : ‘“ Wallis is a good girl, true and loyal, and will make any man a good wife. What she may be in the rank of life to which you propose to transplant her, the future alone can tell.” Placing his hand upon the shoulder of the young nobleman, he added : “ Well, sir, you have my consent if such | is necessary. God speed you. They walked out into the hall together and joined the others. Wallis watched their coming with much agitation, which she tried hard to conceal, and success- fully. To Mr. Stanton the incident seemed to afford much quiet amusement, although he said nothing as to what had passed between himself and the young Englishman. Mrs. Stanton, during this interview in the library, had left the veranda, and so, when the oid lawyer, remarking that he thought he would stroll over to “ The Larches,” strolled away the four young people were left together. Lord Merrimount rose from his chair and going to Wallis, bowing, offered her his arm. There was so much determination in his manner that, without real- izing what she was doing, she rose and took it. He led her to the other end of the veranda, where he said: “JT thought it my duty to say to your uncle that yesterday I declared my love to you.” Wallis looked up at him quickly and sharply. “ Who gave you permission to do so ?” she asked. mo No one, indeed, he. said°swith. a Sniiia. or thought it my duty. I did not tell him that you had Comicboolk<s C@ 3}