Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 190: what you’re looking at

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

“WHERE CAN SHE BE ?” 181 reason to doubt, that they would be equally successful on this occasion. But, alas, she miscalculated, for when she took the tiniest little peep through the lace border of her mouchoir, she saw the same cold lines in the calm face be- fore her and noted an expression of scorn there, which in all her life she had never before beheld. Thoroughly dis- turbed and ill at ease she remained silent. | ‘“You have not answered me, Florence,’’ uttered Rose, a second time. Impelled by the influence which had governed her all her life and which to her unutterable dismay she felt to be as strong upon her now as ever, Florence grasped her fleeing courage in both hands and responded, haughtily: ‘Suppose I were to suggest that your question was an impertinent one, Rose, and refuse to reply to it?”’ Pale and stern, Rose looked: her sister straight in the face, and in a tone in which horror and loathing were min- oled, she said, in a low, concentrated tone: ‘*You dare not answer me!’’ Florence’s heart was swelling with anger. It was an out- - rage, neither more nor less, for any one to stand there and talk so shamefully to her. Had she not just explained to Rose that she was entirely independent of her? What right, then, had she to insult her in her own domain, as it were? A pretty piece of business, truly, for her to follow her all the way across the ocean simply for the pleasure of med- dling with her affairs and then, because they were not go- ing exactly in accordance with her straight-laced notions to abuse her as she would a thief. She was about to answer her sist3r in the manner which she considered the situation justified, when restraining herself, she said instead, tenderly: EOmMmichbooks (€©)