The Mission of Poubalov — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

82 CORROBORATIVE DETAIL. ‘‘T am afraid papa is having a serious time with his business, ’’ said Louise, after he had gone. ‘Everything comes at once, doesn’t it?’’ responded Clara; ‘‘I am so sorry! He wants me to give up trying to find Ivan, dear. It hurts me to displease uncle, but what would you do? I think he would like to have me go away for a time.’’ ‘‘Oh, I don’t think that! I am sure he feels toward you as if you were his own daughter.’’ ‘‘T am sure he does, Lou. A father couldn’t be more af- fectionate and kind; but in this matter, how can I yield to his wishes? He does not know.”’’ ‘*Do you mean about Mr. Poubaloy?”’ ‘*Partly, but I had more in mind that no one could know Ivan’s character as well as I do.’’ Louise thought of her own budding love. If Ralph Har- mon were under suspicion, could she fail to defend him? Could she think of him as other than honorable and faith- ful? A servant passed through the room, and left the door in the hall carelessly ajar. Neither of the young ladies no- ticed it. ‘‘Clara,’’ said Louise, ‘‘I should try to do just as you are doing, but I know I could not be so brave. I think if you should tell uncle about Mr. Poubaloy it might make him feel better. ’’ ‘‘T intend to doso,’’ replied Clara, ‘‘and would have done so last evening if he had been at home.’’ They were interrupted by Mr. Pembroke’s voice. He had stepped from the library into the hall, and was speak- ing with ill-suppressed anger. ‘IT won’t listen to anything you have to say on the mat- ter,’’ he said, ‘‘and I will ask you to confine your talks to me to business mattezs; and when you must see me, go to the office.’’ ‘‘Ugh!"’ grunted old Dexter in reply, ‘‘she’ll make you as ridiculous as she makes herself.’’ Eomichooks. com