Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 238: what you’re looking at

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

EXONERATED. 229 ‘You were more fortunate than most men are,’’ uttered Dick, surveying, with half-closed eyelids and head thrown back, the rings of smoke, as they curled upward from be- tween his lips. ‘‘For which I have never ceased to be duly thankful,”’ ejaculated Arthur, fervently. ‘‘So there, you have the whole story, just as it occurred, and I am more *nxious to know the connection between it and yours,’’ Arthur con- cluded. “This sister——’’ ‘The tyrant in petticoats?’’ interrupted Arthur. ‘‘Oh, I never saw her—never had the least desire to do so. Dolly said she was a terror—a blue-stocking of the most pro- nounced type.”’ ‘Just about the way Dolly would size up a person who was blessed with a little more gray matter than she her- self possessed. ”’ ‘Quite true. It makes no difference, however, one way or the other,’’ rejoined Arthur, indifferently; ‘‘since the - matter is finished and the blooming Florence is laid away on the shelf so farasIam concerned. Neither you nor I will probably ever have the opportunity of judging how far out of the way Dolly’s conception of the legendary Rose was.’’ ‘‘Pardon me, but both of us have had the best of oppor- tunities to judge her,’’ returned Dick; to us, at least, she is not legendary.” ‘What? You must be crazy. Where would you be likely to see her?’’ demanded Arthur. ‘‘Florence assured me re- peatedly that she was a person who never left home and did not care to make acquaintances, Explain, if you please, where you ever saw her.”’ ‘In your house.”’ Gomichbookssco im