His Grace — page 190: what you’re looking at

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

184 HIS GRACE. CHAPTER XV. THE DOWN-HILL ROAD. I wroTE to Nora, and in the course of a few days had a reply from her to the effect that she had received Lady Deverell’s invitation and intended to accept it. “T am sure you are quite right to remain in Berkeley Square,” she told me; “and for the reason that you know of, it wouldn’t be possible for me to join you there. So I ought to be, and I am, very grateful to Lady Deverell for having helped me out of a difficulty. I don’t exactly expect to enjoy myself with her; but I couldn’t very well have stayed on here for an indef- inite length of time without you, and I hope I am not quite such an idiot as you naturally take me for. I mean, I am still capable of being amused and of con- ducting myself properly in fashionable society.” Fortified by these assurances, I proceeded to break the news to Lady Charles Gascoigne, who, as I had anticicipated would be the case, was not best pleased. “T thought,” said she, “it was an understood thing that your sister was to come tous. I must confess that I am surprised at her preferring to place herself under the wing of that horrid old cat, who doesn’t really know anybody and who won't be able to take her to the best houses.” Eomichoo cS (El) m