Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

132 ARTHURS HARANGUE, ‘Well, out with it,’’ he said, quietly. ‘‘You’ve something to say, I suppose.’’ ‘““Yes, I have,’’ uttered Arthur, bracing himself, as it were, ‘‘and I mean to say it now. But understand, I intend it in all good nature, will you? It isthis: Please don’t trifle with Miss Cameron. You can plainly see that she’s sensi- ble and retiring by nature, but aman like you can raise the particular devil with a woman like her if he sets about it. She’s so innocent and unsophisticated, she might think you were serious if you pay her any attention. You area thorough man of the world with no heart in you to lose; she is different. You see, it isn’t fair play, and I beg you to be careful. Gertrude is improving every day under her hands, and if you spoil her, heaven knows what may hap- pen. Heed what I say, for her sake.’’ ‘You flatter me, my boy,’’ was Dick’s only response to this harangue. ‘*T don’t mean to; I am in dead earnest.”’ ‘You are an eloquent pleader, but I think your warning is superfluous—as well as previous. I haven’t done any- thing to warrant it, that I can think of. How is she to know my opinion of her? I just express it to you, en pas- sant, and you are under no obligations to retail it to her. — Are you? Moreover, do you want me to confide to you a conviction of mine? I’ve a dim idea that Miss Cameron is well able to hold her own, in any event, and as you just said, I have studied her, somewhat, so I am perhaps bet- ter calculated to judge than you are. She has a decided stand-offishness about her, which will protect her in almost any skirmish.”’ ‘‘But I know you so well, Dick,’’ returned Arthur, CORMICMOOOx<S. Con