Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 229: what you’re looking at

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

220 A HOMILY ON MATRIMONY. Arthur shrugged his shoulders. Did Dick take him for an imbecile? Rather disdainfully, he asked: ‘‘Upon what grounds, may Iask? Was she awaiting a declaration froma duke ora prince? Perhaps one was courting her, subrosa, at Nice, and she is now advantage- ously settled in life. It is quite possible. She disappeared so mysteriously, after I got well that time.”’ ‘‘No, Miss Cameron did not care to marry.’’ ‘‘She said so, I suppose? They all say so at the outset, amico mio—just tomake the running a little hotter. It didn’t discourage you, 1 hope?’’ retorted Arthur. ‘‘You were chicken-hearted.”’ ‘‘So I might have been considered, had she not given me sufficient reason.’’ ‘What did you consider sufficient reason?’’ scoffed Ar- thur. ‘*T cannot tell you.’”’ ‘‘Tinsist. Having gone thus far, you might as well con- tinue. ”’ ‘‘All right, then,’’ uttered Dick, slowly. ‘‘It was you, Arthur.”’ | ‘*Me?”’ A wave of crimson dyed Arthur’s face and neck at this direct accusation. He drew himself up and looked hard at his friend. Then his features gradually relaxed into a scorn- ful smile. ‘“What twaddle! You must be quite out of your senses, ”’ he observed, quietly. Without noticing this remark or the look which accom- panied it, Dick consulted his watch, and then, deliberately rising to his feet, he said: ‘Since you have been kind enough to invite me to din- GoOmichbookssco